Escudero appeals to national gov’t not to meddle with BARMM polls

Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero during the Senate hearing on July 23, 2024. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Chiz Escudero called on the national government to refrain from meddling with elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Escudero made the pronouncement  in a press conference on Tuesday after political leaders from BARMM, headed by Governor Abdusakur Mahail Tan, paid a courtesy visit in his office.

“[Ito ay] kortesiyang pagbisita at nais kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito para pumosisyon at manawagan hindi lamang sa akin – ako na ang magiging unang halimbawa. Sana huwag nang panghimasukan ng nasyonal na pamahalaan o sinumang hindi taga-BARMM ang pagpili ng ating mga kababayan sa BARMM ng kanilang mga magiging lider dito,” said Escudero.

(This is  a courtesy visit and I want to use this opportunity to position myself and  make a call – I will be the first example. I hope that the national government or anyone who is not from BARMM will not interfere in the choice of our countrymen in BARMM as to who their future leaders will be.)

The Senate president repeatedly clarified that his meeting with Tan and other political leaders from BARMM is not an endorsement.

“Tulad ko, sinumang nasa national government hindi rin dapat makialam at sana wala rin iendorso para malayang makapili ang ating mga kababayan ng kanilang magiging lider,” Escudero emphasized.

(Like me, anyone in the national government should not interfere and hopefully not endorse anyone so that our countrymen can freely choose their future leader.)

According to Escudero, it was only now that a Bangsamoro Grand Coalition was created. He said the coalition is made up of elected officials ibn BARMM — may it be in Congress or in the local government.

“Bilang payo ay huwag silang bumitiw at isang panghahawakan nila ay sabay ang eleksyon sa 2025 sa eleksyon ng BARMM,” said Escudero.

“(As advice, they should head on and push through with their bid that the elections in BARMM be held alongside the  2025 elections.)

Earlier, BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said the first parliamentary elections in BARMM is highly-anticipated.