President Marcos says preparations for the 2025 BARMM elections will continue as Malacañang studies the proposal to postpone the polls.

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, November 22, that Malacañang is studying the proposal to suspend the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections, which are scheduled for May 2025.

Asked about the calls to suspend the BARMM elections during a media interview in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Marcos said, “Well, we are still studying. Some of the local officials say that because Supreme Court decision to separate Sulu from BARMM, maring (there are many) implications in terms of the changes that need to be made, kung kaya natin (if we can do it).”

“Baka hindi natin kayang gawin until (we may not be able to do it until) May next year,” he added.

The President said that apart from the BARMM districts and municipalities that will be affected by the exclusion of Sulu from the region, there are other issues that need to be addressed, including a new administrative code, a new local government code and a new electoral code.

“Marami tayo nakita hindi has an unintended consequence of the Supreme Court decision. Kaya hangga’t mahawa gagawin namin na isasabay natin. Pero kung hindi kaya, mas mabuti nang maging tama kaysa sa madaliin natin tapos magkagulo lang,” he added.

(We did not foresee the many unintended consequences of the Supreme Court decision. So, as far as possible, we will try to hold (the BARMM elections) simultaneously (with the national and local elections). But if we can’t, it’s better to be right than to be rushed, leading to confusion.)

Marcos said preparations for the BARMM elections will continue while Malacañang studies the proposal to postpone the votes.

There are bills pending in both Houses of Congress – Senate Bill 2862 and House Bill 11034 – that seek to move the BARMM election from May 12, 2025 to May 11, 2026.

The Supreme Court announced on September 9 that its decision upheld the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, but that it also ruled to exclude Sulu from BARMM because the province did not ratify it. during the 2019 plebiscite. – Rappler.com