Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. over the weekend welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm stance that the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) must proceed as scheduled on Oct. 13, 2025.
Galvez said the President’s statement affirms the national government’s commitment to fully implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and safeguard the region’s right to self-governance.
“The President’s statement is a powerful affirmation of our shared commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process,” Galvez said.
“It sends a clear message that the national government will not falter in ensuring that the Bangsamoro people can finally exercise their right to elect their own leaders and chart their own destiny,” he added.
Marcos stressed that a failed BARMM election would be a major setback to the peace process, underscoring the need for a credible and peaceful vote.
The polls, mandated under Republic Act No. 12123 signed in February 2025, were moved from the May midterm elections to allow greater focus on the historic vote.
To prioritize the Bangsamoro elections, the President is expected to sign a measure postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, as recommended by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Galvez described the upcoming polls as the culmination of the CAB’s political track, marking the transition from an appointed to an elected Bangsamoro government.
In preparation, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), in partnership with Comelec, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, and the BARMM Information Office, will roll out an information campaign for journalists across Mindanao.
The initiative aims to deepen understanding of the peace process, the election’s significance, and media safety protocols.
“Journalists play a crucial role in nation-building and in shaping public discourse. It is vital that they are well-equipped to provide accurate, balanced, and in-depth reporting on this historic election,” Galvez said.
