This is to concentrate on the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro region.
In a recent media briefing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed his plan to sign the bill that will postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections, which is originally set to happen in December 2025.
According to him, this is to allow the full concentration of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.
Scheduled to be held on October 13, 2025, a total of 73 seats will be contested by regional personalities and parties.
“Ang COMELEC actually ang nagsasabi, ‘Hindi namin kaya.’ Dahil kailangan nating tutukan yung BARMM,” disclosed President Marcos.
He noted they are rooting for the success of the landmark BARMM polls and stressed the significance of the elections for the peace process in the region.
“You have to remember, the BARMM election that is upcoming in October is the first time we have ever had this kind of election at all. At all. Sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, hindi pa nagkaroon ng BARMM Parliament na hinalal ng tao. So, that is why it is so important,” the President added.
Marcos also warned that the failure of the BARMM Parliamentary Elections would be huge setback in the process of achieving long-term piece in the southernmost island group in the country.
Meanwhile, he also referenced the Supreme Court ruling on the Barangay and SK elections, which he said was a factor in pushing back the village polls.
“With a view on the Supreme Court decision that we cannot shorten the term of the barangay officials, we are actually lengthening the term of the barangay officials. So that’s not in conflict. So I think the most sensible and the most common sense solution is to postpone” the Barangay and SK elections,” he said.