MARCOS SIGNS LAW POSTPONING BARMM ELECTIONS

PRESIDENT Marcos has signed into law a proposal to postpone the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 12 to October 13.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed to Palace reporters the signing of the law, which defers the first regular elections in the BARMM.

The President in January certified as urgent the bill postponing the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections (BPE).

Among the reasons for the postponement of the elections were the exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM, an unresolved petition questioning the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro electoral code of 2023, and a request from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for additional time to prepare for the polls.

In October last year, the BTA passed Resolution 641, calling for an extension of its mandate until 2028.

The BTA raised concerns over the holding of elections in 2025 without addressing the issues in the Bangsamoro Region, saying this could result in governance gaps, potentially destabilizing the region’s fledgling autonomous government.

Comelec chairman George Garcia on Friday said  Republic Act 12123, moved the BPE from May 12 to October 13 this year.

“I was informed by Malacañang earlier that the President already signed the bill postponing the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections from May to October of this year,” Garcia said.

“This means that we will have another election to be conducted separately,” he added.

According to Garcia, they are still waiting for a copy of the signed law before modifying preparations for the BPE.