Malacañang on 2025 Bangsamoro polls suspension: Up to Congress

Malacañang on Monday said the decision on whether or not the first-ever elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be suspended is already up to Congress.

"You know, that is now in the hands of Congress. 'Yung BARMM extension or suspension of the elections. They are carefully studying that. Of course, they asked for input from us kasi BARMM naman is a local government unit, autonomous region (Of course, they asked for input from use because BARMM is a local government unit, an autonomous region)," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told reporters.

Bersamin guaranteed that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. gave highest value to BARMM.

"He is very happy [that] there is no fighting. He is very happy [that] there is no violence or bloody encounter, so he wants that to succeed," Bersamin said.

On December 17, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill rescheduling the Bangsamoro elections from May 2025 to May 2026.

Aside from resetting BARMM's inaugural polls, the bill also seeks to end the term of the present duly constituted Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) once the measure is signed into law by the President.

Last September, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) but declared that Sulu was not part of the BARMM.

The Bangsamoro Government then asked the high tribunal to re-include Sulu in the Bangsamoro region.

However, the Supreme Court in November denied motions seeking to reverse its September 9 decision.

Bersamin said the President has not made any decision yet if the measure to suspend and move the BARMM polls will be certified as urgent.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman earlier said that postponing the BARMM polls, which were supposed to be held at the same time of the May 2025 polls, would only foster patronage politics and betray BARMM's autonomous status.

The 80-strong Bangsamoro Parliament is currently composed of 40 political party representatives, 32 district representatives and eight sectoral representatives from women, youth, indigenous peoples and non-Moros. — VDV, GMA Integrated News