By Liza Soriano
MANILA — The Senate has approved, on third and final reading, the postponement of elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Monday, February 3, 2025.
Instead of holding the elections on May 12, 2025, as originally planned, the Senate has decided to move them to October 13, 2025. Eighteen Senators voted in favor of the bill, one opposed, and none abstained.
The proposed postponement was previously certified as urgent by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The proposal to reconcile the versions of the two chambers is expected to be submitted to the bicameral conference committee on Tuesday.
Under the Senate’s approved version, the BARMM elections will be postponed by five months, while the House of Representatives proposed a one-year delay.
The measure aims to provide the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with sufficient time to prepare and allow the current Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to conclude its work.
“This bill does not seek to deny anyone their right to vote. Rather, it proposes a reasonable adjustment to give COMELEC adequate time to prepare and the BTA to wind up their transactions,” said Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito.
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