Senate passes bill postponing BARMM elections to Oct 13

Senate President Francis Escudero expressed hope that the House of Representatives will adopt the Senate's version of a bill postponing the first regular regional elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 12 to October 13, 2025.

The Senate approved the bill on second reading and is set for final approval on Monday, leaving two days to convene a bicameral conference committee if needed.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified the bill as urgent, citing improved security and realignment of governance structure as reasons for postponement.

Sen. JV Ejercito amended the bill to reschedule the elections from May 2025 to October 13, 2025, with terms beginning on October 30.

The version that was approved by the House seeks to defer the BARMM polls for a period of one year, but lawmakers aim to finalize the measure before Congress goes on recess on Feb. 7.

Ejercito outlined the timeline, noting that the bill is set for final approval in the Senate on Monday, followed by a one-day bicameral conference on Tuesday.