INTRO

It must also be remembered that when the organic law was ratified by the Bangsamoro people in
a plebiscite, they approved of a law that provided for an election in 2022. It could be argued that the
people’s consent and approval of that law was premised on the knowledge that they would finally be able
to elect the first Bangsamoro parliament in 2022. As things stand, however, the very topic of the
BARMM elections seems to have been eclipsed by debates about the technical difficulties of the
transition.

Advantages

 Postponing the elections would also mean that the Bangsamoro people would be governed
for three more years by a government that does not enjoy a popular mandate.
 The postponement of elections might give the Bangsamoro people ample time to elect their
own leaders.
 In exchange for a BTA term extension, the Bangsamoro people have the prerogative to
select a new Bangsamoro parliament in a regularly scheduled election.

Disadvantage

The calls for BTA term extension raise important issues about representation, democratic
legitimacy, and political participation in the region. The BTA is MILF-led according to the terms of the
peace agreement. While the MILF negotiated in advancement of Bangsamoro interest during the peace
talks, it does not claim to have obtained the mandate of the people, either through election or other means
of securing broad-based support. Once regular elections are held, the MILF will have to compete with
other political contenders for the leadership of the BARMM. There is no telling how the MILF would fare
against the machinery of long-time Mindanao politicians in the region but postponing the elections would
certainly give the MILF more time to consolidate its political influence.

Recommendation

The holding of elections in 2022 would be a step towards giving life to this aspiration. Moreover,
the election of the first BARMM parliament would provide the post-conflict government with the
democratic legitimation that it currently lacks. If the BTA successfully obtains an extension of its term, it
will be given more time in office and a longer period within which to deliver on the transition project. If it
chooses not to seek an extension, and instead puts in place a solid work plan for the elected parliament to
continue with the transition project, the transition of the BARMM will likewise proceed beyond the
BTA’s term. While both options would allow for a longer period for pursuing the transition project, it
falls on the BTA to demonstrate how a proposal to extend its term beyond that provided by law is
consistent with the democratic ideals it agreed to in the peace agreement.