Manila, March 26 -- A newly enacted law resetting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections to September 2026 is expected to strengthen peace and self-governance in the region, senators said Thursday.

Republic Act 12317, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., sets the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections on the second Monday of September 2026 and aligns succeeding polls with the national and local elections beginning May 2031.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author and sponsor of the law, said the measure would transition the region toward a fully elected parliament with a direct mandate from the people.

"Kapag may tunay na mandato mula sa mga mamamaya...