00:00A judge approved the certification of President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr.
00:05which is urgent for the election of the BARM elections.
00:08The so-called decision will give a way to resolve the current issues in the region.
00:14Mela Lesmora returns to the center of the news.
00:19The House Committee on Mindanao Affairs, Vice Chair, and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adjong
00:26approved the certification of President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr.
00:29because it is an urgent bill that will be passed
00:34on the date of the election of the Moro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARM elections.
00:40According to the Presidential Communications Office,
00:42the President believes that this will help
00:46to resolve the current issues in the region before the election.
00:51This will also help to ensure the unity and true recognition and autonomy in BARM.
00:57We are thankful to President Bongbong Marcos
00:59because the promotion of BARM is part of his priority.
01:03We know that BARM is still in the transition period.
01:06Unfortunately, with the decision of the Supreme Court,
01:09excluding Sulu as part of the core territory,
01:13it had an impact on the selection of seats
01:16that will form the 80 seats in the Parliament.
01:18So it's very imperative and very important
01:21that before we can proceed with the election,
01:23we must redistribute these 80 seats.
01:26The Senate passed the bill first,
01:30which was also approved in the second reading.
01:33In addition to the 2025 midterm elections in May 12,
01:36BARM passed the bill.
01:38In the Senate's version,
01:39it was pushed to be passed in May 2026.
01:42While in the Senate's version,
01:44it will be passed in October 2025.
01:48It is expected that the new election date will be announced in the Senate
01:51when the Senate will join the Bicameral Conference Committee
01:55or if another version will be adopted by a committee.
01:59Mela Las Moras for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
