Bangsamoro chief minister vows transmittal ‘soon’ of electoral code

THE HEAD of the Bangsamoro region in southern Philippines promised the immediate transmission of the draft electoral code, a key legislation amid uncertainty over the scheduled election next year for the autonomous territory’s parliament members.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim told members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, who currently make up the parliament, that the electoral code being drafted by the Cabinet will be transmitted “as soon as possible.”

“The electoral code which is probably one of the most sensitive legislation that this Parliament will enact must be carefully crafted to ensure that we put premium to the betterment of the electorate. We must ensure that it will pave the way for a genuine political exercise that shall serve the core of the regular Bangsamoro Government,” Mr. Ebrahim said during the opening of parliament’s third regular session on June 15.

At the same time, the BARMM leader expressed confidence that the proposal to postpone the election and extend the transition authority’s mandate by another three years will be granted by the Philippine Congress.

“Before I end this speech,” he said, “I would like to share with you that although there are bureaucratic challenges along the way — the call for the extension of the transition period has never been more resounding than now.”

“The President and the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives are giving us the nod that it will happen,” Mr. Ebrahim said.

He also reiterated that the call to extend the transition period “is never about power.”

“It is about ensuring the successful implementation of the Bangsamoro Peace Process.”

Apart from the electoral code, the local government and revenue codes are among the six priority regulations that must be passed by the interim government as provided under the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The three others — administrative, civil service, and education — have already been approved.