Some stakeholders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao recently expressed their full approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s move to certify as urgent the bill seeking to postpone the region's elections.

This, as the President has urged Congress to prioritize the bill just weeks before the legislative body suspends its sessions to give candidates ample time for the campaign period leading up to the 2025 national elections.

In a radio interview, BARMM Minister for Interior and Local Government Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba welcomed the President's statement, stressing the urgency of passing the bill.

"We welcome this development and the news that President Marcos Jr. issued a certificate of urgency, as it recognizes that there are numerous issues that need to be addressed before we can fully say that BARMM is ready for elections," Dumama-Alba said.

For their part, the MPs, Governor Sammy Gambar, Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr., Governor Yshmael Mang Sali and Governor Jim Hataman and other stakeholders have expressed their gratitude to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Anton Lagdameo for looking at the welfare of BARMM and for pushing for this extension.

To recall, the President has sent a letter to Senate President Francis Escudero, certifying as urgent Senate Bill 2942 which seeks to postpone the BARMM elections to October 2025.

In November 2024, Escudero filed the bill to formalize his proposal to defer the BARMM parliamentary elections. The Senate bill has passed the second reading and proposes rescheduling the BARMM elections from 12 May 2025 to 13 October 2025.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has approved a bill postponing the elections to May 2026.

BARMM stakeholders and public officials have voiced support for the deferment of the 2025 elections in the region, noting that there are issues that need to be addressed, like the removal of the province of Sulu as part of BARMM and the imbalance of parliamentary seats if the election pushes through, among others.

"This purposeful resetting is intended to ensure that the electoral process is conducted with integrity and safeguards the fundamental right of suffrage by creating the conditions necessary for its meaningful exercise," said Basilan Governor Jim Hataman Salliman, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua and Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali in a joint statement.

The governors stressed that their call is not politically motivated but rather a matter of legislative responsibility to prioritize the welfare of BARMM residents.

Ten Basilan mayors, including Roderick Furigay of Lamitan City, Nasser Abubakar of Lantawan, Moner Manisan of Tabuan Lasa, Jomar Maturan of Ungkaya Pukan, Jaydeefar Lajid of Albarka, Alih Sali of Akbar, Arsina Kahing-Nanoh of Muhtamad, Jul-Adnan Hataman of Sumisip, Arcam Istarul of Tipo-Tipo, and Talib Pawaki of Hj. Muhammad Ajul has also expressed their support for postponing the elections.