Election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections or LENTE has questioned a decision of the Supreme Court (SC) resetting the first-ever parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to March 2026.
LENTE described the SC decision as ‘interference’ in the date set for an election by a valid law.
‘This decision also sets a dangerous precedent, one that risks opening the floodgates for malicious actors to use judicial intervention to justify the postponement despite the validity of a law setting the date of the election,’ LENTE said in a statement.
The poll watchdog said that such actions could erode public confidence in the electoral process, weaken democratic institutions and stifle the people’s right to suffrage and self-determination.
LENTE urged the high court to reassess its role in setting the date of elections, noting that this is a legislative prerogative that must be exercised through a valid law.
It urged the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to immediately pass a new redistricting law before Oct. 30 to prevent another deferral of the Bangsamoro people’s right to choose their representatives.
The BTA wants Congress to pass a law setting the date of the BARMM elections.
Rex Laudiangco, spokesman for the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said that members of the Bangsamoro Parliament want to work with Congress for the passage of a law fixing the date of the BARMM electoral exercise.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body would abide by the decision of the high tribunal.
He said the Comelec is waiting for the passage of the new redistricting law.
Garcia assured the Bang-samoro people that the election would push through.
He said the postponement would give the Comelec more time to better prepare for the BARMM parliamentary election.