Manila: The proposal to postpone the 2025 elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is currently pending with the House of Representatives, according to Senate President Francis Escudero. This development was discussed during the regular Kapihan sa Senado, where Escudero highlighted that the proposal is primarily a local bill, necessitating its initiation and completion within the House before any Senate deliberations. According to Philippines News Agency, Senate President Escudero clarified that the House has not yet conducted a public hearing on the proposal. He emphasized that it is not the responsibility of Malacañang to prompt the House into action, asserting the independence of the legislative process. Escudero noted that even if the bill passes the initial committee stage, it must still be referred to the Committee on Rules and cannot be reported out until the House has completed its proceedings. Escudero has previously submitted Senate Bill No. 2862, which seeks to shi ft the date of the first BARMM elections from May 12, 2025, to May 11, 2026. The objective of this deferral is to maintain peace, development, and progress in the region. During the initial public hearing on this measure, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. mentioned that postponing the elections would provide the Bangsamoro Transition Authority with additional time to refine policies and complete the decommissioning process of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants. Senator Ronald dela Rosa has noted that while there is some skepticism among senators regarding the postponement of the BARMM elections, they remain open to discussions on the matter.