Palace confirms Marcos certified bill postponing BARMM polls as urgent
![Marcos has certified as urgent the proposed measure postponing the BARMM polls.](https://images.gmanews.tv/webpics/2025/01/bongbong_marcos_012225_2025_01_23_18_50_51.jpg)
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent the proposed measure postponing the BARMM polls, Malacañang confirmed Wednesday.
“This is confirmed,” Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez told reporters when asked about Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero’s update on the bill.
Later in the day, the PCO said Marcos supports the immediate passage of Senate Bill 2942, as this ''would address the urgent need of the Bangsamoro transitional government to realign its governance structure.''
''It will also ensure that the region's aspirations for unity, inclusivity, and genuine autonomy are achieved,'' the PCO said in a statement.
A copy of the urgent certification was transmitted to Escudero, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Secretary Mark Llandro ''Dong'' Mendoza, chief of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.
The Senate version, which was approved on second reading on Tuesday, proposed to move the BARMM polls from May 12, 2025 to October 13, 2025.
On the other hand, the bill that was approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives proposed to defer the polls to May 2026.
The Senate bill provides that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will continue to serve until after the elections, while the House version states that the term of office of the present BTA members will be deemed expired and the President will appoint 80 interim members who will serve until their successors have been elected.
In a Viber message to reporters, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said they have yet to proceed with the printing of the ballots for the BARMM elections.
"Because of these recent development(s) we did not yet proceed with the printing of the BARMM parliamentary ballots. Only the national and local elections ballots," Garcia said.
"The reason is because we may end up opening the filing of candidacy anew for the region in the event of redistricting as a result of reapportionment of the slots originally assigned to Sulu," he added.
Escudero said the Senate is eyeing passing the bill on third reading next week.
In a separate Viber message to reporters on Wednesday, Senator JV Ejercito, the bill's sponsor, said the certification is only an "insurance in case the measure wasn't passed on second reading" on Tuesday.
—with Hana Bordey and Llanesca T. Panti/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News
Need a wellness break? Sign up for The Boost!
Stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness reads.
Please enter a valid email address
Your email is safe with us