Bangsamoro gov't welcomes law postponing polls

The Bangsamoro government has welcomed the passage of the law postponing the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In a report by GMA News Online, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has signed into law the measure postponing the BARMM parliamentary elections from May 12 to October 13, 2025, as announced by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Friday.

“Meron tayong information coming from the Palace [na] officially napirmahan na ng ating Pangulo ang panukalang batas na nagpo-postpone o nagpapaliban sa Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections mula May 12, 2025 to October 13, 2025,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.

In a statement, the Bangsamoro government said the rescheduling of the elections is a welcome development “to further strengthen the foundations of autonomous governance.”

“We remain committed to upholding democratic principles, fostering meaningful political participation, and maximizing the transition period to establish a more stable and effective government for the Bangsamoro,” the statement reads.

The Bangsamoro government also expressed its gratitude to the President and other stakeholders that supported the legislative measure.

“As we move forward, we call on everyone to remain engaged, vigilant, and united in shaping the future of the region,” the statement added.

Garcia said the poll body has already started preparing for BARMM polls.

“Ang Comelec, nagsisimula na kami na magkaroon ng paghahanda patungkol dito sa bagay na ito kasi siyempre separate na eleksyon na ito at hindi na kasabay ng national at local elections,” the Comelec chief said.

The Palace, in January 2025, announced that Marcos certified as urgent the bill postponing the BARMM elections.

Garcia said the Comelec wanted to see the “exact wordings” of the enrolled bill approved by the bicameral conference committee, particularly provisions concerning the distribution of parliamentary seats previously belonging to Sulu province.

“Gusto namin malaman paano yung distribution ng pito na parliamentary seats na dati ay originally nasa Sulu,” he said.

The Supreme Court, in September 2024, upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) but declared that Sulu was not part of BARMM.

The Sulu province rejected the ratification of the BOL during the plebiscite in 2019.

In November 2024, the Supreme Court denied motions seeking to reverse an earlier decision excluding the province of Sulu from BARMM.

Garcia said the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections will be automated.

“We’re hoping na sa balota na iiimprenta namin para sa Bangsamoro na andon yung pictures ng lahat ng kandidato kasama na rin ang logos ng political parties,” he said.

The Comelec earlier suspended the printing of ballots for the BARMM elections after the bicameral conference committee decided to move the polls to October 13.

“Hindi natin pinatuloy ang pag-iimprenta ng mga balota para sa BARMM Parliamentary Elections ballots pagkat mataas ang posibilidad, may enrolled bill na, maging panukalang batas na,” said Garcia on Super Radyo dzBB.

(We halted the printing of ballots for the BARMM parliamentary elections since an enrolled bill moving the election date is likely to become law.)

Garcia confirmed that the printing of ballots for the national and local elections in BARMM has continued.

If the bill moving the BARMM parliamentary elections to October 13 is enacted, the Comelec will assess whether the existing list of candidates will be retained or if a new filing of candidacy will be required.

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

However, after the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in September, it ruled that Sulu was no longer part of BARMM.

This decision necessitates the redistribution of the vacated seats.

According to the Comelec, 109 aspirants have filed their candidacies for district representative seats in the 2025 Bangsamoro polls. — With reports from GMA News Online/ GMA Regional TV

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