By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — More than 2.3 million voters in the Bangsamoro region will head to the polls Monday to elect the first members of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament, opening a new chapter in the region’s transition to an elected government.
The inaugural parliamentary elections will fill 80 seats in the regional parliament.
Half of the seats will be allocated through Regional Parliamentary Political Parties (RPPPs), while the other 40 will be filled by 32 parliamentary district representatives and eight parliamentary sectoral representatives.
The 2,393,202 registered voters will cast ballots for a district representative, a parliamentary political party and six parliamentary sectoral organizations representing settler communities, women, youth, ulama and traditional leaders.
Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia described the elections as the latest institutional development arising from the Bangsamoro peace process and the region’s long pursuit of self-government.
Garcia said the elections carry the legacy of generations who fought for homeland, identity and self-determination amid conflict, displacement and marginalization.
He said the peace process eventually provided a political framework for establishing institutions of Bangsamoro self-government, which are now being placed under elected representatives chosen by voters.
“The election before us carries that history forward,” Garcia said, noting that institutions created through struggle, negotiation and transition would now be entrusted to officials with a mandate from the electorate.
With voting set for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Comelec has established an earlier voting period for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Those unable to vote during the early period may still cast their ballots during regular voting hours.
The elections will use automated counting machines (ACMs) that were previously deployed during the May 2025 midterm elections.
Garcia appealed to voters, candidates and political parties to protect the credibility and peaceful conduct of the polls.
He urged voters to cast their ballots freely and without fear while calling on candidates and parties to observe restraint and respect the electoral process.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is also mobilizing around 4,000 volunteers across BARMM to observe the elections.
About 1,000 volunteers will participate in the organization’s unofficial parallel count.
PPCRV National Communications Director Ana Singson said the group will also take part in the Random Manual Audit in Davao and operate command centers in BARMM and at the PPCRV-AMA Command Center in Makati City.
The organization’s unofficial parallel count is scheduled from Sept. 17 to 22.
Meanwhile, the Comelec Committee on Kontra Bigay has ordered former Comelec chairperson and parliamentary district candidate Sheriff Abas to explain a social media post allegedly showing him involved in vote-buying.
The Sept. 12 show-cause order gave Abas a non-extendible 24-hour period from receipt of the order to submit a written explanation on why an election offense complaint and/or petition for disqualification should not be filed against him.
The case arose from a Facebook post alleging advance vote-buying. The post showed a sample ballot bearing Abas’ name alongside three P1,000 bills.
The order does not itself establish that vote-buying occurred. Abas is being required to explain the social media material before the election authorities determine whether further legal action is warranted.
The developments come as BARMM prepares for its first parliamentary vote, with the Monday elections set to determine the initial elected representatives of the region’s new legislative institution.
ia/xf
