Marcos certifies urgent bill to postpone BARMM elections

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has certified as urgent legislation to postpone the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a move seen as support for the region's transition.

The president urged Congress to prioritize the bill just weeks before suspending legislative sessions, giving candidates ample time for campaigning ahead of the 2025 national elections.

OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. welcomed the certification and stated that it will give both the national and regional governments more time to fulfill their commitments under existing peace agreements, especially following the Supreme Court's ruling excluding Sulu province from the BARMM.

Galvez emphasized the need for the Bangsamoro government to amend key legislations such as its electoral and local government codes, which will take considerable time, highlighting that postponing the elections is crucial to address legal issues.

The Senate has already concluded interpellation on the bill and must pass legislation before adjourning on February 7th, while the House of Representatives proposed resetting the BARMM elections to May 11, 2026 through House Bill No. 11144.