Marcos: ‘Failed Bangsamoro polls not an option’

JUNE 23, 2025 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PCO PHOTO

President Marcos on Friday said he will sign the measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to allow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to focus on the first-ever regular parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Speaking to journalists after his state visit to India, the President stressed the historic and critical nature of the BARMM elections, which will be the first time voters in the region will directly elect their parliament.

“If that election fails, that will be a big failure in the peace process, that’s why the BARMM elections need to be successful),” he added.

Marcos noted that the Comelec itself has recommended postponing the BSKE, citing its limited capacity to handle both the barangay polls and the BARMM parliamentary elections.

“On the Supreme Court decision that we cannot shorten the term of the barangay officials, we’re actually lengthening. That’s not in conflict,” he said, adding it was the “most sensible” course of action. —PNA