President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has received a letter from Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero asking him to certify as urgent a bill seeking to reset the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Presidential Communications Office said a copy of the letter was also transmitted to Speaker Martin Romualdez and Secretary Mark Leandro Mendoza, presidential adviser on legislative affairs and head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.

“The President has written to Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero certifying as urgent Senate Bill No. 2942 entitled 'An Act Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Amending for the Purpose Article XVI, Section 13 of Republic Act No. 11054, Otherwise Known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, as Amended,'” the PCO stated.

The PCO said Marcos acted on the matter “given recent legal developments surrounding the issue.”

“The move would address the urgent need of the Bangsamoro transitional government to realign its governance structure,” Marcos said, as quoted by the PCO, in support of the passage of SB 2942.

“It will also ensure that the region's aspirations for unity, inclusivity, and genuine autonomy are achieved,” he added.

Escudero earlier said the Senate is considering passing the bill on the third reading by next week, even without Marcos’ certification.

The Senate recently approved on second reading SB 2942, which seeks to move the BARMM parliamentary polls to a later date.

The upper chamber originally proposed the deferment from 12 May 2025 to 11 August 2025. However, Sen. JV Ejercito, who sponsored the bill, said it will now be moved to 13 October 2025.