President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent the bill postponing the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero disclosed on Tuesday.
“President Marcos has certified the BARMM election postponement,” Escudero said in a press conference (“May sinertify si Pangulong Marcos na BARMM election postponement”).
Malacañang later confirmed this, with Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez stating, “This is confirmed,” when asked about Escudero’s announcement. However, Escudero did not specify whether the certified urgent bill was the Senate or the House of Representatives’ version.
The Senate version of the bill, currently on second reading, proposes to move the BARMM elections from May 11, 2025, to August 11, 2025, while the House of Representatives has already approved on third and final reading a bill pushing the elections back to May 2026.
Escudero said he has already discussed the matter with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, as the Senate aims to pass the bill on third reading next week.
He also revealed that the Senate’s version might undergo amendments based on recommendations from security officials, who suggested a five-month postponement to allow necessary adjustments following Sulu’s exclusion from the BARMM.
The push to delay the BARMM elections stems from multiple factors. In September 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu should be excluded from the BARMM, citing the province’s majority “no” vote in the 2019 plebiscite.
This ruling significantly affects the allocation of parliamentary seats, as Sulu was originally designated seven seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament. With the exclusion of Sulu, a reconfiguration of parliamentary districts and seat allocations is necessary, which in turn requires more time to adjust the electoral framework.
Additionally, the BARMM elections will mark the region’s first transition to a parliamentary system, a shift from traditional local elections. Advocates of postponement argue that additional time is crucial for voter education and for ensuring that the new political structure is implemented effectively.
Security concerns have also played a role in the push to postpone. Officials warn that holding the elections as originally scheduled could pose risks to stability in the region, as preparations for a smooth and peaceful transition remain ongoing.
Delaying the elections would provide security forces more time to address potential threats and ensure a safe environment for voters. Given the complex challenges involved, proponents of the postponement believe that the delay would allow for a better-prepared, more transparent, and more stable electoral process.
With the certification of urgency from Marcos, the bill will be exempt from the usual three-day rule between readings, expediting its passage.
The Senate is expected to finalize and approve the measure soon, but with differing timelines between the House and Senate versions, a bicameral discussion may be needed before the final bill is enacted into law.
#Halalan2025 #BARMMElections #ElectionPostponement #PhilippinePolitics #Mindanao #SenatePH #HouseOfRepresentatives #MarcosJr #ChizEscudero #Bangsamoro
