The decision whether to proceed or postpone the election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) should lie on the Moro people, not the senate. This was the statement made by Sandugo Alliance co-chairperson and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Mek Lidasan on November 29.

“Our right to self-determination must be respected,” she said. This statement was a response to Senate President Chiz Escudero’s declaration that postponing the BARMM election aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s directive.

The May 12 scheduled election is the first for establishing the Bangsamoro Parliament in line with the Bangsamoro Organic Law provisions. Elected officials will replace the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, which has been in place since 2018.

At Marcos Jr’s order, the Senate is pushing to postpone the election to May 11, 2026. “This shows that that they still call the shots,” Lidasan said.

Lidasan expressed concern over the national government’s intervention in the BARMM process. These actions are contrary to the authority granted to the BTA and the Moro people’s right to self-determination.

“Instead of imposing a postponement of the election, the resolutions of the Senate and BTA should serve as a platform to address the issues related to it and strengthen the voices of their constituents, who want to elect, for the first time, a parliamentary government,” she said. According to recent reports, 16 parties are prepared to participate in the election for 80 seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament.

She called on the Senate and Congress to swiftly resolve the legal and technical challenges posed by the Supreme Court’s decision removing Sulu from BARMM jurisdiction, so this does not hinder the conduct of the election.

Lidasan, along with the Makabayan Coalition, also called on the national government to collaborate with the sectors in the Bangsamoro, including parties and organizations, to achieve a strategic solution that respects the spirit and provisions of various agreements and promotes genuine autonomy and self-determination.