Poe: BARMM gov't finalizing stand on proposed postponement of 2025 polls

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has yet to finalize its stand on the proposed postponement of the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on May 12,2025, according to Senator Grace Poe.

This was disclosed during the continuation of the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget on Monday after Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III asked the position of the BARMM leadership on the proposal.

"Since there's a resolution, Mr. President, the members of the BARMM will have a meeting regarding this and at the proper time, they will give their opinion regarding the matter," Poe, who was speaking on behalf of the BARMM officials, responded.

According to Poe, the BTA will consider the position of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which manifested that they wish to proceed with next year's polls, in coming up with the decision.

"That's one position that may be considered in their deliberation, but the BARMM itself has to come up with their decision after the consultation," she said.

Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri raised the possible need to introduce a "minor" amendment to the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which defined the basic structure of government in BARMM, following the exclusion of the province of Sulu from the region.

"I believe in the 20th Congress, maybe we could file a measure to ask them again just once and for all, Sulu, if they really want to remain out of BARMM or not," Zubiri said.

"But we will have to amend the BOL with that... It's a simple amendment, no need of a plebiscite but it needs a plebiscite on elections in Sulu. So, we can probably do that later on. We just don’t have time now. Matatapos na po ang ating 19th congress (The end of 19th Congress is nearing)," Zubiri added.

Bills postponing the 2025 BARMM elections are being pushed in both houses of Congress.

No less than Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez filed the bills in the upper and lower chamber, respectively, seeking to defer the 2025 BARMM polls.

According to Escudero, he filed the bill upon Malacañang's request.

Before the proposed measure was even discussed at the committee level, it already faced opposition from Pimentel and the president's own sister, Senator Imee Marcos.

During the Senate's hearing on the bill seeking to postpone the BARMM polls, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez stressed the need to defer the BARMM polls following the Supreme Court ruling on the exclusion of Sulu province from the autonomous region.

Maguindanao del Sur Governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu, however, opposed the proposal and stressed that deferring the 2025 BARMM polls is "denying the Bangsamoro people the right to choose their own leaders."

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has already appealed to Congress to decide on whether to postpone or not the first-ever BARMM polls by December. —RF, GMA Integrated News