Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent a proposed measure to postpone the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This announcement was confirmed by Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez through a text message sent to reporters on Wednesday. The certification indicates a significant development in the legislative process regarding the scheduling of electoral activities within the BARMM.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senate President Francis Escudero revealed that President Marcos has certified the measure seeking to delay the BARMM polls. However, there is some ambiguity surrounding which version of the bill has been certified as urgent. The Senate's version of the bill, which recently passed its second reading, proposes moving the BARMM elections from May 11, 2025, to October 2025. In contrast, the version approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives aims to defer the elections to May 2026.
The first parliamentary election in BARMM is currently scheduled to coincide with this year's midterm elections in May. The decision to certify the postponement as urgent reflects the administration's priorities in ensuring that the electoral process in the BARMM aligns with the broader political timetable and governance objectives.
