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Advocates Philippines
Zubiri Says September 2026 Must Be Final Date For First Bangsamoro Parliament Polls
Photo credit: Bangsamoro Government
“This is the fourth postponement, and it has to be the final one.”
With that firm declaration, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri pushed for the reset of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament elections to September 14, 2026, under Senate Bill No. 1823.
Delivering his sponsorship speech, Zubiri stressed that the Bangsamoro people can no longer wait to elect their own leaders. The measure sets the elections on the second Monday of September 2026 and every three years thereafter.
Originally scheduled to coincide with the May 2022 national and local polls under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the parliamentary elections have been delayed multiple times due to unforeseen developments — from the pandemic to Supreme Court rulings that reshaped the region’s political landscape.
Zubiri, who authored and sponsored the Bangsamoro Organic Law, warned that further delays could damage public trust in both the Bangsamoro and national governments.
“We cannot delay our people’s right to vote any longer,” he said. “Huwag nating hintayin na ang ipalit sa balota ay bala.”
The upcoming elections will be historic, marking the first time the Bangsamoro people will directly elect members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament, composed of district, party-list, and sectoral representatives.
To remove uncertainty, the bill also guarantees a full three-year term for those elected in 2026.
“Hindi na po natin sila isasabay sa national election para makapagsilbi sila nang kumpleto ng three-year term,” Zubiri explained, assuring potential candidates their terms will not be shortened.
Zubiri laid out the timeline of delays. The first postponement moved the elections from May 2022 to May 2025 due to the pandemic. A second delay followed a Supreme Court ruling that excluded Sulu from BARMM, requiring the reallocation of seven parliamentary seats. A third postponement came after the Court struck down the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act for gerrymandering, directing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to pass a new law and hold elections by March 2026.
However, the new redistricting measure was only passed on January 12, 2026, missing the deadline and prompting the proposed fourth reset.
Zubiri said September 2026 is the “best, earliest, and most practicable date,” giving the Commission on Elections enough time to reopen voter registration and prepare for the region’s first parliamentary polls.
Still, his message was clear: no more extensions.
“By delaying and delaying, we are eroding our people’s trust,” he said, underscoring that peace and democratic transition in the Bangsamoro region must move forward without further setbacks.
Senate Bill No. 1823 is now part of the Common Legislative Agenda of both the legislative and executive branches, signaling strong backing for what Zubiri hopes will finally bring the Bangsamoro elections to fruition.
With that firm declaration, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri pushed for the reset of the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament elections to September 14, 2026, under Senate Bill No. 1823.
Delivering his sponsorship speech, Zubiri stressed that the Bangsamoro people can no longer wait to elect their own leaders. The measure sets the elections on the second Monday of September 2026 and every three years thereafter.
Originally scheduled to coincide with the May 2022 national and local polls under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the parliamentary elections have been delayed multiple times due to unforeseen developments — from the pandemic to Supreme Court rulings that reshaped the region’s political landscape.
Zubiri, who authored and sponsored the Bangsamoro Organic Law, warned that further delays could damage public trust in both the Bangsamoro and national governments.
“We cannot delay our people’s right to vote any longer,” he said. “Huwag nating hintayin na ang ipalit sa balota ay bala.”
The upcoming elections will be historic, marking the first time the Bangsamoro people will directly elect members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament, composed of district, party-list, and sectoral representatives.
To remove uncertainty, the bill also guarantees a full three-year term for those elected in 2026.
“Hindi na po natin sila isasabay sa national election para makapagsilbi sila nang kumpleto ng three-year term,” Zubiri explained, assuring potential candidates their terms will not be shortened.
Zubiri laid out the timeline of delays. The first postponement moved the elections from May 2022 to May 2025 due to the pandemic. A second delay followed a Supreme Court ruling that excluded Sulu from BARMM, requiring the reallocation of seven parliamentary seats. A third postponement came after the Court struck down the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Redistricting Act for gerrymandering, directing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to pass a new law and hold elections by March 2026.
However, the new redistricting measure was only passed on January 12, 2026, missing the deadline and prompting the proposed fourth reset.
Zubiri said September 2026 is the “best, earliest, and most practicable date,” giving the Commission on Elections enough time to reopen voter registration and prepare for the region’s first parliamentary polls.
Still, his message was clear: no more extensions.
“By delaying and delaying, we are eroding our people’s trust,” he said, underscoring that peace and democratic transition in the Bangsamoro region must move forward without further setbacks.
Senate Bill No. 1823 is now part of the Common Legislative Agenda of both the legislative and executive branches, signaling strong backing for what Zubiri hopes will finally bring the Bangsamoro elections to fruition.
Feb 12, 2026
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