FIVE of six governors of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reiterated their call for the postponement of the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in the Bangsamoro region until after the decommissioning of combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) shall have been completed. Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman Salliman said in a statement that he filed a motion during the meeting seeking the creation of a Technical Working Group that will study the position papers of the five BARMM governors who want a postponement: Hataman Salliman, Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu. The Feb. 20, 2023 'urgent appeal' submitted by the governors to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for a swift investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators who ambushed Governor Adiong 'and of other violent incidents in the BARMM,' immediate decommissioning of MILF forces, camps and base commands, and postponement of the barangay (village) elections in the BARMM 'until after the full decommissioning of the MILF.' In their appeal, the governors said they are seriously concerned that law enforcement in the BARMM will continue to be handicapped leading to the barangay elections on Oct. 30, 2023, unless effective decommissioning of MILF combatants and firearms is completed. BGen. Allan Nobleza of the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Region reported it still has 23 potential PAGs from 37 on their list. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity had earlier reported that 15,300 MILF combatants out of 40,000 have yet to be decommissioned. Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM's minister of local government, said a Technical Working Group will be created to study the proposal of the governors as the postponement is a matter that needs congressional enactment.