3/20/25, 12:38 AM Republic Act No.

12123

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[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12123, February 19, 2025 ]

AN ACT RESETTING THE FIRST REGULAR ELECTIONS IN THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN
MUSLIM MINDANAO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13, ARTICLE XVI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
11054, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ORGANIC LAW FOR THE BANGSAMORO
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO"

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Section 13, Article XVI, of Republic Act No. 11054, otherwise known as the "Organic Law for the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"Section 13 First Regular Election. - The first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government
under this Organic Law shall be held on October 13, 2025. The next election shall be held and
synchronized with the 2028 national elections and every three (3) years thereafter. The Commission
on Elections (COMELEC), through the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, shall promulgate rules and
regulations for the conduct of the elections, enforce and administer them pursuant to national law,
this Organic Law and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.

The term of office of the officials first elected shall commence at noon of the 30th day of October next following their
election."

Section 2. During the extension of the Transition Period, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) shall continue
as the interim government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), unless such
interim members are replaced by the President or their tenure is shortened by their election to a different office. The
interim members of the BTA shall serve until their successors shall have been elected and qualified in an automated
election.

Section 3. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Government shall disburse the share of the
Province of Sulu in the annual block grant from the National Government for the undertaking of its programs in
2025, in accordance with the rules and regulations that may be issued by the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM).

Section 4. For the purpose of this Act, aspirants who filed their certificates of candidacy for the parliamentary
districts and nominees for party representatives listed in the certificates of nomination and acceptance incorporated
in manifestations of intent to participate filed by duly accredited political parties from November 4 to 9, 2025, shall be
automatically considered as candidates and nominees in the October 2025 election. New filings for certificates of
candidacy or for manifestations of intent to participate with a list of nominees shall not be entertained: Provided,
That the COMELEC shall have the authority to issue appropriate guidelines on the filing of candidacies, in case the
seats originally allocated to the Province of Sulu are re-apportioned by the Bangsamoro Parliament. Substitution of
candidates and nominees shall not be allowed, except in cases of death or disqualification, pursuant to the
guidelines promulgated by the COMELEC.

Section 5. The Bangsamoro Parliamentary election on October 2025 shall not be treated as a special election and
shall be considered a continuation of the 2025 National and local Elections (NLE). Any amount obligated prior to the
resetting of the Bangsamoro Election shall remain valid.

The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
of the COMELEC or any available appropriations as may be identified by the DBM subject to existing budgeting,
accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, subject to the usual budget preparation
process.

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3/20/25, 12:38 AM Republic Act No. 12123
Section 6. If any of the provisions of this Act is held unconstitutional, the provisions not affected shall remain valid
and binding. ℒαwρhi৷

Section 7. All laws, decrees, issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly.

Section 8. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(SGD.) FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO (SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2942 and House Bill No. 11144, was passed by the Senate of
the Philippines and the House of Representatives on February 4, 2025 and February 5, 2025, respectively.

(SGD.) RENATO N. BANTUG, JR. (SGD.) REGINALD S. VELASCO

Approved: FEB 19 2025

(SGD.) FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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