BARMM peace covenant signing for 2025 polls set on Monday – Comelec
MANILA, Philippines — The signing of a peace covenant in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for the 2025 midterm elections is expected to happen on Monday, March 17, 2025, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Thursday.
Garcia said that the signing will serve as an agreement for BARMM candidates and officials to vow for safer and more peaceful elections in the region.
“Napakaimportante yung Monday, yung covenant signing, lalo na sa Maguindanao South at North na gagawin natin sa kampo sa Cotabato City… Kung yan ay magkakatotoo, yung pirmahan na yan, lagdaan para sa mapayapang halalan, masosolve ‘yung iba nating concerns, problem,” Garcia said in a press conference with new BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.
(The covenant signing on Monday that will be held in Cotabato City will be very important, especially in Maguindanao South and North… If that signing and agreement for peaceful elections happens, some of our concerns and problems will be solved.)
The Comelec recently observed a surge in the number of election-related violence in the Cotabato City and Maguindanao del Sur.
In January, the Comelec identified 38 areas of concern under the red category due to grave threats and concerns amid the preparations for the 2025 elections.
Thirty-two areas are under the BARMM, two each in Cagayan Valley and Bicol region, and one each in Western and Eastern Visayas.
Garcia added that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP_ had been pushing for the conduct of the covenant signing in the region.
“Kung sakaling sila ay mag uusap at magkakasundo, magkakamayan sa harap ng lahat, sa harap ng officials ng Comelec, PNP, AFP, at chief minister, kahit papaano, yung tensyon kahit papaano ay bababa don,” Garcia noted.
(If they will discuss and agree in front of everyone, in front of Comelec officials, PNP, AFP, and the chief minister, at least, the tension will ease.)
In a separate interview, Garcia said that he is confident that the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will coordinate with the Comelec to ensure and maintain safe and peaceful 2025 elections.
