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BARMM elections reset has gained backing from Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who co-sponsored the measure seeking to move the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao polls to September 2026.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed support for resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to September 2026, underscoring the need to preserve peace, allow the Bangsamoro institutions to further consolidate gains from the transition, and sustain congressional backing to ensure stability and development in Mindanao.

Speaking on the Senate floor on Tuesday, February 10, Go expressed support for the bill’s sponsor and the legislative framework that underpins the Bangsamoro transition. “I support our Majority Leader Senator Migz Zubiri, who is also the sponsor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Go stated.

Recalling the conditions that prevailed in Mindanao prior to the current transition, Go described persistent security challenges and the priority given to addressing them during the Duterte administration. “Naaalala ko noon, talagang problema ang peace and order sa Mindanao. Talaga pong magulo talaga doon. Kaya naman po isa sa mga naging prayoridad ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pagsulong sa mga karapatan ng mga kababayan natin sa BARMM. We want to have a just, inclusive and long-lasting peace in Mindanao. Yan naman po ang aming pinangarap noon pa sa Mindanao – katahimikan po.”

He attributed the current institutional arrangements in the region to the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which established the BARMM and set the transition mechanisms toward self-governance. “Through the Bangsamoro Organic Law, we have laid the groundwork to foster peace and stability in the Bangsamoro,” he said.

At the same time, Go stressed that the establishment of BARMM marked a beginning rather than an endpoint, requiring continued legislative attention and support. “With that said, Mr. President, we should also acknowledge that BARMM needs our continued support. Nagsimula na po ang BARMM, at kailangan nito ang patuloy na suporta ng Kongreso para tuluyang maging matagumpay,” he told the chamber.

He explained that the proposed reset of the elections should be viewed as a measure aimed at reinforcing peace and development across the region. “Mr. President, sana po ang postponement na ito, ay sana para sa patuloy na maitaguyod ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa BARMM. Hindi lang para sa mga kapatid nating Moro, kundi para sa buong Mindanao,” Go said.

Concluding his co-sponsorship speech, Go thanked the Senate leadership and recalled earlier years when the Bangsamoro peace process faced uncertainty, expressing hope that lasting peace would be realized. “Maraming salamat po Mr. President. Salamat rin sa ating Majority Leader, sa pakikipaglaban po sa Bangsamoro, sa BARMM Region. Noon pa man, maaalala ko, 2018, 2019. Sana po’y makamtan na natin ang ating inaasam na kapayapaan po sa Mindanao. Maraming salamat po, Mr. President.”

Following Senator Go’s co-sponsorship speech, Majority Leader Senator Zubiri placed on record Senator Go’s earlier involvement in the Bangsamoro legislation during his time in the executive branch.

“I also want to put on record, Mr. President, Senator Bong Go was also pivotal in this measure because he was Secretary at the time,” Zubiri said.

He recalled that this was during the period following the Marawi siege, when Go was serving as the Special Assistant to the President.

“This was after the Marawi siege, and he was the President’s Special Assistant. I remember that one afternoon in the Senate Lounge, I was not yet Majority Floor Leader. I was just a mere member of the Senate,” Zubiri recounted.

Zubiri then narrated receiving a phone call from then-Secretary Go, which unexpectedly led to a direct conversation with then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I received a call from then-Secretary Bong Go. And when I answered it, he passed the phone to then-President Tatay ‘Digong’ Duterte. When he passed the phone, I was caught in shock because I didn’t realize that the President was going to talk to me at the time,” he said.

According to Zubiri, Duterte emphasized the gravity of the situation in Mindanao following the Marawi siege and appealed to him to take on a key role in the legislative process.

Zubiri further shared that Go again intervened shortly thereafter when an issue was discovered with the version of the bill that had been filed.

“As a matter of fact, shortly after—about a week after—he called me again, Mr. President. Secretary Bong Go called me again because apparently we filed the wrong version of the BBL. The BBL, mali po ’yun,” Zubiri said.

He explained that the version initially filed was not acceptable to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“’Yun ’yung hindi nila gusto. ’Yun ’yung lumang BBL. At ang gusto po ng taga-MILF is ’yung bagong BBL na. And so I refiled. I filed the new version. I pulled out the old version and filed the new version, Mr. President,” he said.

Zubiri emphasized that Go remained deeply involved in the discussions leading up to the passage of the measure.

“And so even Senator Bong Go at the time, Secretary Bong Go, was deep also into the discussions and the passage of this measure,” he said.

He concluded by noting that the collective effort ultimately resulted in the enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“So finally, what they worked so hard for, it was a signed bill by then-President Duterte,” Zubiri said, expressing hope that the process would culminate in the election of a new set of representatives.

“Finally, Secretary Senator Bong Go, we hope that there will be an announcement this September and we have a final birth to a new set of elected parliamentarians at the BARMM.