Next PH president can appoint new BTA members: Galvez

MANILA – The next President of the Republic of the Philippines can appoint new Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) members once the new government takes over, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.

The BTA serves as an interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which will maintain its current composition, upon the approval of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on March 3 said the “incumbent members of the BTA shall continue in office in a holdover capacity, until otherwise directed by the Office of the President,” in accordance with Section 2 of Republic Act No. 11593, otherwise known as An Act Resetting the First Regular Elections in the BARMM.

“In a holdover capacity, the terms of office of the BTA members are tied to the appointing authority, which in this case is President Duterte. This is to allow the next President to appoint a new set of BTA members once he or she assumes office,” Galvez said in a statement.

Galvez said the country’s Security, Justice, and Peace Cabinet Cluster (SJPCC) earlier recommended to Duterte to maintain the status quo on the current composition of the BTA, through Resolution No. 173, dated Oct. 12, 2021.

The recommendation includes granting incumbent members to continue carrying out their mandate “in order to preserve the gains achieved under the body’s various programs, projects, and legislative measures”.

Followed by a BTA request on February 15, through Resolution No. 209, to reappoint the BTA members whom Duterte appointed, noting “this will ensure a smooth transition process without the possibility of any political disruptions taking place”.

The joint SJPCC statement earlier said the retention of the current BTA is crucial to addressing concerns of massive changes once the next administration takes over.

“The SJPCC made the recommendation in light of the fact that only three months remain before the newly-elected administration takes over the reins of government. This period would give the incumbent BTA members the time to complete their deliverables until June of this year,” Galvez said.

The BTA has executive and legislative power over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, created following the abolition of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019.

The BTA was tasked to oversee the three-year transition period from 2019, followed by an election of BARMM officials.