Stakeholders welcome Palace urgency on bill postponing BARMM polls
MANILA, Philippines — Malacanang's move to certify as urgent the bill seeking to postpone the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim (BARMM) has been met with approval by key stakeholders in the region.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged Congress to prioritize the bill just weeks before the legislative body suspends its sessions, to give candidates ample time for the campaign period leading up to the 2025 national elections.
In an interview with Teleradyo, BARMM Minister for Interior and Local Government, Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba welcomed the president's statement, emphasizing the urgent need to pass the bill.
"We welcome this development and the news that President Marcos Jr. issued a certificate of urgency, as it recognizes that there are numerous issues that need to be addressed before we can fully say that BARMM is ready for elections," Dumama-Alba said.
For their part, the MPs — Gov. Sammy Gambar, Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Gov. Yshmael Mang Sali and Gov. Jim Hataman — and other stakeholders thanked Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo for looking at the welfare of BARMM and for pushing for this extension.
The president has sent a letter to Senate President Francis Escudero, certifying Senate Bill No. 2942, which seeks to postpone the BARMM elections to October 2025, as urgent.
In November 2024, Escudero filed the bill to formalize his proposal to defer the BARMM parliamentary elections. The Senate bill has passed the second reading and proposes rescheduling the BARMM elections from May 12, 2025, to October 13, 2025.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has approved a bill postponing the elections to May 2026.
BARMM stakeholders and public officials have voiced support for the deferment of the 2025 elections in the region, noting that there are issues that need to be addressed, like the removal of the province of Sulu as part of BARMM and the imbalance of parliamentary seats if the election pushes through, among others.
"This purposeful resetting is intended to ensure that the electoral process is conducted with integrity and safeguards the fundamental right of suffrage by creating the conditions necessary for its meaningful exercise," said Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman Salliman, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abdulraof Macacua, and Tawi-Tawi Gov. Yshmael Sali in a joint statement.
The governors emphasized that their call is not politically motivated but rather a matter of legislative responsibility to prioritize the welfare of BARMM residents.
Ten Basilan mayors, including Roderick Furigay of Lamitan City, Nasser Abubakar of Lantawan, Moner Manisan of Tabuan Lasa, Jomar Maturan of Ungkaya Pukan, Jaydeefar Lajid of Albarka, Alih Sali of Akbar, Arsina Kahing-Nanoh of Muhtamad, Jul-Adnan Hataman of Sumisip, Arcam Istarul of Tipo-Tipo, and Talib Pawaki of Hj. Muhammad Ajul, have also expressed their support for postponing the elections.
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