Marcos on BARMM poll suspension: We're studying it

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday said the calls to suspend the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections next year are being studied.

“Well, we are still studying it,'' Marcos told reporters. ''Some of the local officials are saying because of the Supreme Court decision of separating Sulu from BARMM, maraming implications in terms of the changes that have to be made. Kung kaya natin – baka hindi natin kayang gawin by May of next year (there are a lot of implications in terms of the changes that have to be made. If we can or we cannot do this by May of next year).''

Marcos explained that because of Sulu being no longer part of the region, there is a need to work on the new Local Government Code, Administrative Code, and the Electoral Code.

''Marami tayong hindi nakita na naging unintended consequence ng decision ng Supreme Court. Kaya’t hangga’t maaari, gagawin namin na isasabay natin, pero kung hindi kaya mas mabuti na maging tama saka sa [ibabalik natin] tapos magkagulo lang,'' Marcos said.

(We failed to see a lot of unintended consequence of the decision of the Supreme Court. That's why we will still try to push through but if we can't, it's better that we will do the right thing instead of pushing for it.)

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier filed a bill seeking to postpone the first regular elections in the BARMM from May 12, 2025 to May 11, 2026.

Escudero said that the bill was filed upon the request of Malacañang.

"Ito ang nire-request ng Palasyo dahil nga sa mga kaganapan, mga pagbabago naganap nitong nakaraang linggo at buwan... Kabilang na rito siyempre ung latest Supreme Court decision na hanggang ngayon nga ay hindi pa pinal," Escudero said.

[This is a request of Malacañang because of recent events and developments the past week, month ... this includes the latest Supreme Court decision which is not yet final until now.]

Three governors have since backed the moves to postpone the BARMM polls.

In a joint statement Basilan Governor Jim Hataman Salliman, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, and Tawi-Tawai Governor Yshmael Sali said the postponement of the BARMM elections will provide “necessary time” to address the distribution of parliamentary seats.

Asked if there is a timeline for the study given that poll preparations are ongoing, Marcos said, ''Ay iba-iba 'yung suggestion nila... nag-file na kasi ‘yung mga iba para sa BARMM elections. Para patuloy din ‘yung mga paghahanda para sa eleksyon.''

(They have different suggestions, others have already filed [their candidacy] for [the] BARMM elections. Our preparations will still continue.)

Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, seven of the 80 parliament seats are allocated to Sulu.

However, as the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in September, it also declared that Sulu is no longer part of the region.

The Commission on Elections earlier said a total of 109 aspirants have filed their certificates of candidacy for the BARMM polls.

Two members of the Bangsamoro Parliament have expressed support for the proposed BARMM election postponement so that there will be more time to reallocate Sulu’s seats.

However, the Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) said there are still six months to address the relocation of seats in the parliament before the elections. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News