MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Senate on Tuesday evening approved on second reading a proposed measure resetting the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to October 2025.
Only Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel voted against the passage of Senate Bill No. 2942, believing that there had been several times that the BARMM elections had been reset and moving it to October 2025 would permanently 鈥渄esynchronize鈥� it from national and local elections.
The BARMM election was initially proposed to be moved from May 12, 2025, to August 11, 2025.
But now, Sen. JV Ejercito, sponsor of the bill, said it will be moved to October 13 of the same year.
READ: Bill rescheduling BARMM polls to August 2025 reached Senate plenary
鈥淭he next election shall be held and synchronized with the 2028 national elections, and every 3 years thereafter,鈥� Ejercito鈥檚 office told reporters in a text message.
In a separate press conference also on Tuesday, Senate President Chiz Escudero said the amendment made was meant for law enforcers to be able to ensure the security of the regular elections.
鈥淭hey want to focus more鈥� they want more time to refocus the security forces in the BARMM area. Second is to give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority enough time, in case they decide, to allocate the seven seats that should be in Sulu that were lost due to the Supreme Court decision,鈥� Escudero told reporters.