Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced his intention to sign a measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to enable the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prioritize the inaugural regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos emphasized the significance of the BARMM elections during a briefing with the Philippine media delegation following his five-day state visit to India. He highlighted that this marks the first occasion where voters in the region will have the opportunity to directly elect their parliament.

The President underscored the importance of the BARMM elections to the peace process, stating that a failure in this election would be detrimental. He reiterated the necessity for the elections to be conducted successfully to uphold the peace agreements in the region.

Marcos acknowledged the recommendation from Comelec to defer the BSKE, citing its limited resources and capacity to manage both elections concurrently. He assured that this postponement would not conflict with the Supreme Court's ruling, which prohibits shortening the terms of barangay officials, as the postponement effectively extends their terms.

President Marcos described the decision to postpone the BSKE as the most practical approach, especially after the country recently concluded midterm elections and is preparing for the crucial BARMM parliamentary polls.