Photo by Morsid Kadir
DAVAO CITY— Various information officers and media practitioners in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were acquainted with the salient points of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC) as part of the 1st BARMM Information and Media Summit held in this city from October 18-20.
Lawyer Jurhaiza Japurie from the Office of the Floor Leader of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) briefly discussed the salient features and the key innovations introduced in the BEC.
The BEC sets the guidelines and procedures for the conduct of Parliamentary elections in the BARMM in 2025 alongside the national elections and ensures the protection of the people’s right to suffrage and the integrity of the electoral process.
Passed into law in March this year, BEC adopts a modified Parallel Electoral System, combining Proportional Representation and the First Past the Post System, and provides for reserved seats to electorally under-represented sectors.
It further outlined that the 80-member Parliament shall be composed of 50% Party Representatives, not more than 40% District Representatives, and at least 10% Reserved Seats and Sectoral Representatives.
“Brief background of parliamentary ministerial form of government, isa po siyang demokratikong form ng government where the political party with the greatest representation in the parliament forms the government,” said Japurie.
“Eto pong political parties, ang hinihingi po ng batas ay at least they must have 10,000 members who are registered voters in the BARMM,” she added, citing that the law provides that all parties shall establish provincial and city chapters in all provinces and cities, and municipal chapters in the majority of the municipalities comprising each province.
“Para po madistribute sa entire BARMM region ang membership at para maging representative talaga siya,” Japurie explained.
Another mentioned salient point of the BEC is the prohibition of financing or alliance with national parties.
“Mayroon tayong prohibition on financing or alliance with national parties kasi ang intention natin ay panatilihin ang integridad ng isang political party na walang influences from outside the region para malaya tayo na magcraft ng legislations na akma sa ating sa BARMM,” the lawyer explained.
Japurie also highlighted some key innovations in the BEC, such as the nomination of candidates wherein 30% must be women, and the anti-political dynasty wherein nominees submitted by a political party shall not be related to each other within the 2nd degree of consanguinity and affinity.
Meanwhile, Project Director Brizza Rosales of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) also discussed the frequently asked questions about the BEC.
BTA being the interim government is entrusted to enact priority codes stipulated in Bangsamoro Organic Law and the enactment of an electoral code is found in its Section 4, Article IV which clearly mentioned that “The Bangsamoro Government shall adopt an electoral system which shall be consistent with national election laws, allow democratic participation, encourage the formation of genuinely principle political parties, and ensure accountability.” (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
