Legarda moves to secure earliest BARMM Polls after several postponements

Senator Loren Legarda, Co-Chair of the Philippine Congress–Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, co-sponsored Senate Bill No. 1587, which sets the date for the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following several postponements.

“This is not an ordinary measure, and it does not concern an ordinary election. It sits at the center of our nation’s pursuit of peace, justice, and self-determination for the Bangsamoro people,” Legarda said.

She emphasized the deep historical roots of the Bangsamoro struggle. “Hindi ganap ang Pilipinas kung wala ang kwento ng Bangsamoro. Nakaukit ito sa ating kasaysayan, humuhubog sa ating kasalukuyan, at tumutukoy sa landas ng ating kinabukasan batay sa kung gaano natin ito tapat na kikilalanin at iingatan,” she said.

Legarda pointed to the long journey toward peace, citing the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Bangsamoro Organic Law as foundations of the electoral process.

She recalled that elections in the BARMM have already been postponed four times— first in May 2022 under RA 11054, then in May 2025 under RA 11593, later in October 2025 under RA 12123, and most recently in March 2026 pursuant to a Supreme Court directive.

“Ang mga pagpapaliban na ito ay hindi nangyari nang walang dahilan, subalit sinubok nito ang pasensya at nagdudulot ng kawalan ng katiyakan sa ating mamamayang matagal nang naghihintay na ganap na maisakatuparan ang kanilang mga demokratikong Karapatan,” she said.

Legarda recognized the generations of negotiators, legislators, community leaders, and citizens who worked for peace.

“Because of their sacrifice, the Bangsamoro now stands on the threshold of an election that will finally allow its people to fully exercise their right to suffrage and shape their own parliamentary government.”

“Malinaw at simple lamang ang papel natin dito ngayon: ang tiyakin na ang eleksyon sa BARMM ay maganap sa pinakamaagang panahon,” Legarda declared.

She reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to working in partnership with BARMM leaders to ensure that the region’s first regular elections take place at the earliest possible time, conducted in a fair, free, and credible manner. (30)