05/08/2026
Deputy Speaker Atty. Jose I. Lorena served as the resource speaker during the Media Orientation on the Bangsamoro Peace Process, Bangsamoro Electoral Code, and Media Safety held on August 5, 2026, at L' Meridian Hotel in Zamboanga City. Specifically designated by Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Mohammad S. Yacob to deliver the lecture, Deputy Speaker Lorena provided participants with a comprehensive discussion on the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, highlighting its key provisions, recent amendments, and its vital role in strengthening the Bangsamoro governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In his presentation, Deputy Speaker Lorena explained that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) was established in the absence of an electoral system for the BARMM. He emphasized that the enactment of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code was necessary to fulfill the mandate of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which requires the establishment of a legal framework for the region's parliamentary elections.
He discussed the salient features of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, including its recent amendments. Among the notable changes are the removal of the "None of the Above" option from the ballot; the reduction of the seat allocation threshold from 4 percent to 2.5 percent; and the lowering of the minimum membership requirement for the registration of a regional political party from 10,000 to 5,000 members, underscoring that these amendments were introduced to promote greater inclusivity and broader political participation.
Deputy Speaker Lorena also explained the three (3) forms of parliamentary representation under the Bangsamoro Parliament, namely: Political Party Representatives, District Representatives, and Sectoral Representatives.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of the Electoral Code's anti-turncoatism provision, which prohibits elected party member/s from transferring from one political party to another party or supporting other party agenda contrary and inimical to his own party. He noted that any violation of this provision results in the forfeiture of his seat in the Parliament.
He likewise stressed the Electoral Code's commitment to gender inclusivity by requiring every regional political party to ensure that at least thirty percent (30%) of its nominees are women, reinforcing the Parliament's commitment to women's meaningful participation in governance.
In addition, Deputy Speaker Lorena discussed the establishment of the Bangsamoro Electoral Office, which will oversee the administration of the regional parliamentary electoral system under the supervision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
The orientation was conducted to equip media practitioners with a deeper understanding of the Bangsamoro peace process, the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, and media safety in preparation for the historic first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections on September 14, 2026. The activity was organized by the Bangsamoro Information Office (BIO) in partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).
