As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its first parliamentary elections since inception in 2019, this pivotal event stands as a significant milestone in the region’s journey towards self-governance. Against the backdrop of a longstanding struggle against marginalization and conflict, nearly 2.4 million voters are eager to cast their ballots, despite recent violence that underscores the challenges that remain. With aspirations for greater autonomy, these elections embody a crucial step toward ensuring a democratic future for the region’s diverse and resilient Muslim population.
Nearly 2.4 million voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines are taking part in an historic parliamentary election, the first since the region was established in 2019. This pivotal vote represents a crucial move toward self-governance for a region that has experienced decades of insurgency and turmoil, with hopes pinned on a brighter, more peaceful future.
With 80 legislative seats at stake, the election will determine members of the regional parliament. This includes 40 representatives from political parties, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives. The parliament will also select the region’s chief minister, who will lead the executive branch during its first session. Election officials have set an ambitious turnout goal of at least 80 percent for an electorate that has faced prolonged polling delays.
However, just a day before the elections, incidents of violence cast a shadow over the proceedings. The chairman of the Commission on Elections, George Garcia, announced that Cotabato City had come under the commission’s control following a shooting on Sunday that resulted in three fatalities and left 15 others injured. There were also reports of an improvised explosive device explosion that injured its bearer. In a separate case in Maluso, Basilan, the discovery of pre-shaded ballots in over half of the precincts led to their control being transferred to the commission, prompting immediate reprinting of ballots for those areas.
Garcia expressed his commitment to hold accountable anyone attempting to undermine the electoral process through violence or vote-buying. He emphasized that these elections encapsulate the essence of the Bangsamoro people’s struggle for identity, homeland, and self-determination amidst a backdrop of historical challenges.
As polls prepare to close at 7 PM local time (11:00 GMT), the elections signify the conclusion of the transition period governed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), interim leaders appointed in 2019. Set against the framework of a 2014 peace agreement, the BARMM seeks to fulfill the aspirations of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels who, after generations of conflict, chose to abandon the pursuit of a separate Muslim state in a predominantly Catholic nation. With a history in which approximately 150,000 lives have been lost due to conflict, the area is now on a promising path towards reconciliation and reduced violence, symbolizing hope for a renewed future.
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