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Hataman Warns BARMM Election Delay Violates Constitution Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman expressed his strong objection to postponing the 2025 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections, warning it would breach the constitutional mandate for synchronized elections. Hataman cited the 2011 Supreme Court decision in Kida vs. Senate of the Philippines, which underscores the requirement for synchronized national and local elections, with exceptions only for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. “Gustuhin man nating ipagpaliban ang halalan sa BARMM, it is my opinion na hindi natin ito magagawa dahil labag ito sa mandato ng Konstitusyon na dapat ang mga halalan ay synchronized,” Hataman stated. He further explained the repercussions of delaying the elections: “Kung ipapagpaliban natin ang 2025 BARMM elections, at ayon sa panukalang pinag-uusapan natin sa Kongreso ngayon ay every three years na ang halalan, the succeeding elections would fall on May 2029. Hindi na synchronized sa national elections natin.” Hataman maintained that the BARMM parliamentary elections should be held alongside the 2025 midterm polls, giving the people of the Bangsamoro region the opportunity to elect their leaders. “My position remains: it is time for the people in the Bangsamoro region to choose their own leaders.” He acknowledged the unresolved issue of Sulu’s exclusion from BARMM but noted that both Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez view the Supreme Court ruling on the matter as non-final. “It’s just proper to go on with the 2025 BARMM election,” Hataman concluded.