“The situation is complex: Even as Comelec and BARMM say they’re prepared for the scheduled October 13 elections, the Supreme Court TRO is in effect.
We, leaders and people of the republic, cannot ignore the issue and its consequences — which may be calamitous for the entire country. We need to attend to the intricacies of the situation and reach the best compromise solution to the current impasse. We need an approach that maximizes democratic legitimacy, respects the courts and Congress, and supports enduring peace and governance.
For a start, all stakeholders, including the national government, BARMM officials, party leaders, local governments, and civil society, must ensure that the elections are held within several weeks if not months — ideally after the most critical legal, technical, and representation issues, especially seat reallocation for Sulu and protection of disenfranchised constituencies, are definitively resolved.
The compromise solution must honor the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and maintain the momentum of peace implementation. The MILF, MNLF, and major actors must commit to upholding stability regardless of political outcomes. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority must retain powers only until the elections are held, and be subject to regular reporting and oversight to prevent abuse during the extended transition.
Both Houses of Congress need to pass corrective measures that schedule a clearly defined postponement and clarify who is included and / or excluded from BARMM; these measures must adjust district allocations, and ensure that Sulu and all affected areas are properly represented and protected from disenfranchisement.
I thus urge the President to certify as urgent the earlier bills filed by Senator Chiz Escudero and Rep. Martin Romualdez seeking to address the political deadlock.