President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. confirmed on Friday that he will sign into law the bill postponing this year's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to allow the government to focus on the first-ever Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) polls.
Speaking during the Kapihan with the Media in Bengaluru at the conclusion of his five-day State Visit to India, Marcos was asked about Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia's earlier statement that Malacañang would not hold a formal signing ceremony for the bill and would instead allow it to lapse into law on August 14.
"No, I’ll sign it. I’ll sign it," the President clarified.
"Because we are facing one of the biggest elements here—kakatapos lang natin ng malaking election, midterm election. Susunod na rito 'yung BARMM, isasabay pa natin ngayon 'yung barangay [elections]. Masayado nang... Ang Comelec mismo ang nagsasabi na hindi namin kaya," he explained.
Marcos emphasized the need to concentrate on the BARMM elections in October, noting that it will be the first time in Philippine history that the region will elect its parliament.
"Sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas hindi pa nagkaroon ng BARMM Parliament na hinalal ng tao. So, that is why it is so important," he said.
The President stressed that the failure of the BARMM elections could undermine the peace process in the region, which is why the government must devote its full attention to ensuring their success.
"The local officials are saying, we just finished a local election, magkakaroon na naman tayo ng barangay election. Parang ganoon din. So, we, with a view on the Supreme Court decision that we cannot shorten the term of the barangay officials, we are actually lengthening the term of the barangay officials. So that’s not in conflict," he explained.
"So I think the most sensible and the most common-sense solution is to postpone,” Marcos added.
Last June, the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report setting four-year terms for barangay and SK officials, extending the current three-year limit.
