BARMM officials ordered to submit courtesy resignations
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua ordered all ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of offices and agencies in the Bangsamoro Region to submit their courtesy resignation no later than June 30, 2025.
In a memorandum dated June 23, Macacua said the decision is due to the 'serious and grave complaints' he received and to 'improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery in this crucial phase of the end of the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region'.
'To ensure continuity of government services, all concerned shall continue to report for work and perform only their routinary functions not involving discretion until any action on the courtesy resignations are taken,' the memorandum said.
'In case a Minister, Deputy Minister, Head of Office or Agency covered by this Memorandum Circular fails or refuses for any reason to tender his or her unqualified courtesy resignations on or before the deadline, the refusing or failing official shall be deemed resigned,' it added.
BARMM polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed the issuance of the memorandum.
However, poll chief George Erwin Garcia said this will have no significant effect on the preparations for the Bangsamoro elections in October.
'Tinanong din po natin sa mga taga-BARMM kung totoo ito at kinumpirma na legit po. Importante po sa amin na malaman dahil sa proper coordination natin sa mga tamang opisyal bilang paghahanda sa nalalapit na BARMM parliamentary election,' Garcia told GMA News Online.
(We asked the BARMM if this is true and they confirmed that it is. This is important for our proper coordination with the proper officials as part of preparations for the upcoming BARMM parliamentary elections.)
'Wala naman po ganung epekto dahil ito po ay internal sa kanila,' he said.
(This has no significant impact on the poll preparations because this is internal to them.)
Comelec officials, including Garcia, are set to meet with stakeholders in Cotabato City on Wednesday, June 25, to discuss preparations for the Bangsamoro polls.
This includes a walkthrough of the facilities that will be used for the parliamentary elections that includes voting precincts, canvassing centers and media centers.
'Ang kampo ng 6ID sa Cotabato City ang aming planong operation center. Dyan natin mismo ilalagay ang canvassing center ng region kung san mapproklama ang mahahalal…Gusto namin alamin kung saan pwede mahiram ang mga pasilidad sa kampo at gusto natin malaman ang peace and order situation,' Garcia added.
(We're eyeing to put up our operations center in the camp of the Army's 6th Infantry Division in Cotabato City. That is where we will place the regional canvassing center and where the winners will be proclaimed. We want to know what facilities we can borrow for the polls and to know the current peace and security situation.)
The first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections is set on October 13, 2025. —RF, GMA Integrated News
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