Senate bill sets September BARMM poll

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate approved yesterday on third and final reading a bill resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to the second Monday of September and every three years thereafter.

Voting 21-0-0, senators passed Senate Bill 1823 during plenary session.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the measure’s sponsor, said its approval is “one step forward to achieving peace in the Bangsamoro region.”

Sen. Joel Villanueva, who sponsored and co-authored the bill, voiced full support for the bill under Committee Report 29.

“We support a process that will ensure that every vote is truly valued. We believe that democracy is strongest when its foundations are firmly and properly established,” Villanueva said.

“Let us view this reset as a commitment to genuine democracy, one where the people of BARMM are able to participate fully, fairly and confidently in choosing their leaders,” he added.

The Commission on Elections earlier expressed openness to holding the BARMM polls in September.

Zubiri said stakeholders and the House of Representatives consider it the “best, earliest and most practicable” schedule.