The Bangsamoro peace process remains “strong and robust” despite the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to postpone the first-ever parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Galvez emphasized that the delay in the BARMM parliamentary elections will not derail the gains of the peace process, which, he pointed out, has “significantly transformed the region” since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014 between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“The Bangsamoro peace process remains strong and robust. It continues to accelerate with all joint peace mechanisms in implementing the deliverables to the spirit of the Bangsamoro peace agreement,” he said during a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum in Manila.

“Since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014, the Bangsamoro peace process has achieved numerous milestones that have brought greater peace and development in the region and its people,” he added.

The Supreme Court (SC) recently upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 11593, which postponed the first BARMM parliamentary elections originally set for Oct. 13, 2025 to “no later than March 31, 2026.”

The decision effectively extended the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), allowing it more time to complete the transition and strengthen governance in the region.

Galvez welcomed the High Court’s ruling, saying it provides the BTA “a stronger legal foundation” to fulfill its mandate.

“We are truly grateful for the wisdom of the Supreme Court, giving the Bangsamoro Transition Authority more time to ensure that the democratic aspiration of the Bangsamoro people [is] realized within the framework of the Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL),” he noted, referring to the charter of the autonomous region.

“In fact, nakita namin sa baba na kulang na kulang sa education ang mga tao especially this is the first time na magkakaroon tayo ng parliamentary [elections]. This is different from the usual election that we have. Nakita ko ‘yung six months magandang time para sa preparation (In fact, we saw on the ground that many people still lack education especially since this will be the first time that we will have parliamentary [elections]. This is different from the usual election that we have. I believe that the six-month [extension] is a good opportunity for preparation),” he stressed.

In terms of peace and order, the peace adviser said the security situation in BARMM remains “stable”. “The peace is holding because many people are holding to the peace dividends that already happened,” Galvez said.

Despite the reset, Galvez called on the OPAPRU’s peace partners, local leaders, and stakeholders in the Bangsamoro region to continue working together toward inclusive development and a peaceful transition leading up to the region’s first parliamentary elections.

“There are challenges that the Bangsamoro peace process is currently facing but nothing is impossible when the parties remain committed to the Bangsamoro peace process, having in mind the intention and goodwill to finish all the agreed agreements,” he said.

Last month, Galvez had expressed concern over apparent "divisions within the leadership of the MILF. Prior to this, the MILF Central Committee ordered the suspension of the decommissioning of the final batch of 14,000 combatants due to alleged unfulfilled commitments of the OPAPRU to the group under the peace agreeement, an allegation vehemently denied by the peace agency.

The peace panel which concluded negotiations with the MILF that led to the signing of the CAB has warned about the "fracture" within the MILF, urged their leadership to “halt from any action that would only further destabilize their own organization,” as well as the government to “help unite, not divide, its peace partner.”