BARMM parliament seeking tenure extension

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Members of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament have asked Congress to extend their tenure for another three years.

The request is contained in a resolution approved by the 80-member parliament on Tuesday.

In a statement released yesterday, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority said that members of the parliament need more time to prepare for the conduct of the first parliamentary elections in the autonomous region next year as well as in educating voters.

The present members of the Bangsamoro parliament are functioning in an appointive capacity, valid only until next year.

The first members of the parliament were appointed in 2019 by then president Rodrigo Duterte.

President Marcos retained most of the members and appointed new ones in August 2022.

The government can extend the tenure of the Bangsamoro parliament through legislation.