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SA bisa ng pagkatig ng 247 mambabatas, pinal na inaprubahan ng Kamara ang House Bill 8220 na nagtatakda ng first regular parliamentary elections sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) sa Setyembre ng kasalukuyang taon.
Sa gabay ni House Speaker Faustino Dy III, at House Majority Leader Rep. Sandro Marcos, pinagtibay sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang naturang panukalang batas na tugon sa “legal gap” na dulot ng isang court ruling.
Layon ng panukala tiyakin ang maayos na “transition” sa bisa ng pagsasagawa ng parliamentary election sa naturang rehiyon.
“The bill seeks to keep the peace process anchored on a clear democratic mandate while giving election authorities the legal basis to begin preparations early,” pahayag ni Marcos.
Ayon naman kay Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, pangunahing may akda at chairman Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, isinasaad ng HB 8220 na maaaring ganapin ang halalan sa BARM sa ikalawang Lunes ng Setyembre ng taong kasalukuyang.
“This bill protects the integrity of the transition by putting the first parliamentary elections on firm legal ground, so the people of Bangsamoro can finally choose their leaders through the ballot,” ani Adiong.
“This bill allows that the first BARMM elections will take place in September this year, and with the Senate’s approval, we are ready for the bicam so we can deliver a clear and credible path to the people of the region,” dugtong ng House panel head.
Ani Adiong, isinusulong din sa HB 8220 na ang regular elections para sa Bangsamoro Government ay gaganapin sa ikalawang Lunes ng Mayo 2031 at tuwing ikatlong taon pagkatapos nito.
Mayroon din nakapaloob na “holdover mechanism” sa loob ng extension ng transition period kung saan ang Bangsamoro Transition Authority ay magpapatuloy bilang interim government hanggang sa mahalal ang mga mamumuno sa rehiyon.
Sa ilalim ng HB 8220, inaatasan ang Commission on Elections, sa pamamagitan ng Bangsamoro Electoral Office, na bumalangkas ng rules and regulations para sa pagdaraos ng halalan alinsunod sa umiiral na pambansang batas, Organic Law at Bangsamoro Electoral Code.
“To support operational readiness, the measure provides that the automated election system used in the May 12, 2025 national and local elections shall likewise be used for the first BARMM parliamentary election, including the machines, devices and equipment, as well as the suppliers and providers involved in their operation and maintenance, to ensure consistency, efficiency and integrity in the process,” paliwanag pa ni Adiong. (ROMER R. BUTUYAN)
