Manila, Aug. 10 -- Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s assurance that the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will push through on Oct. 13, stressing that "failed Bangsamoro polls [are] not an option."

"The President's statement is a powerful affirmation of our shared commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process," Galvez said in a statement over the weekend.

He said Marcos sent a clear message the national government will ensure the Bangsamoro people can elect their own leaders and shape their future.

Marcos earlier underscored the importance of holding the BARMM elections as scheduled, saying a failure would be "a big fail...