Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has expressed his support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to holding the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on October 13. Galvez emphasized that “failed Bangsamoro polls [are] not an option.”
He stated, “The President’s statement is a powerful affirmation of our shared commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process,” highlighting the national government’s role in enabling the Bangsamoro people to elect their own leaders.
Marcos has underscored the importance of these elections, noting that a failure to conduct them would be “a big failure in the peace process.” The elections, mandated by Republic Act 12123 signed in February, will mark the transition from an appointive to an elected parliamentary government in the region.
To facilitate preparations, Marcos plans to sign a measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections from December 1 to November 2026.
Galvez also announced that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), in partnership with Comelec and other organizations, will conduct campaigns to enhance media coverage and safety during the historic elections.
