Voting commenced on Monday in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), marking a significant moment in the region’s efforts to solidify peace and democratic governance. The election took place under heightened security following violence on Sunday, when an argument at a polling station in Cotabato City escalated into gunfire, resulting in three deaths and 15 injuries. In response, the Commission on Elections placed Cotabato City under its control to ensure order for the vote.
The elections are considered a critical test for the 2014 autonomy agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country’s largest Muslim separatist group. This deal was designed to end decades of conflict that left over 120,000 dead and displaced about two million people, and to prevent extremist groups from gaining a foothold in the region.
Nearly 2.4 million registered voters in the BARMM cast ballots for party-list representatives, district representatives, and sectoral seats within the region. Despite logistical challenges, including the need to reprint ballots after pre-shaded ballots were intercepted, election officials reported that overall voting was generally peaceful. Polling precincts were scheduled to close at 7 p.m. local time, with some allowed to remain open until 9 p.m. due to delayed openings.
The BARMM, the Philippines’ only autonomous region governed under a parliamentary system, incorporates parts of Mindanao and several islands to the west previously known for piracy and banditry. The election completes a transition process initiated by the peace agreement, which granted the Muslim-majority south greater political and economic autonomy.
Rival political entities, including parties formed by former MILF combatants, factions that emerged after the peace deal, and established political clans, vied for power in the region’s new parliament. Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chairman of the MILF and a candidate in the election, described the vote as a fulfillment of the Bangsamoro people's long-standing desire to choose their leaders democratically. Murad, who served as the interim chief minister of BARMM until 2025, said the election represents a milestone in the region’s journey toward lasting peace and self-determination.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the significance of the vote in a video message, urging citizens to participate in what he called a "defining moment" for both the BARMM and the Philippines. International observers and peace monitors have also been present to oversee the electoral process and assess the durability of the autonomy framework.
Preliminary results from the election were expected to be announced as early as Tuesday. The outcome will be closely watched, as it will shape the future political stability and development of a region that has long sought to overcome the legacies of conflict and extremism.