All systems go for BARMM polls prep

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MANILA, Philippines — Preparations are in full swing for the 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections, as national government agencies and partner institutions coordinate security, legal, and administrative measures to ensure orderly and credible polls.

This was highlighted during a Command Conference held on April 28 at Camp Crame for the BARMM Parliamentary Elections and the 2026 Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, where key stakeholders reaffirmed that the electoral exercise is firmly moving forward under a “whole-of-government” approach.

Philippine National Police Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. led discussions with election stakeholders, underscoring coordination among agencies to secure the upcoming polls. The meeting gathered officials from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and civil society election monitors.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, along with officials from the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and BARMM’s Ministry of Interior and Local Government, were present, reflecting broad institutional support for election preparations.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo initially stressed the high importance of holding the first-ever elections in BARMM, highlighting the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the election as urgent.

“The first BARMM parliamentary elections will be a historic moment not just for the region but for the whole nation. It is an opportunity for the Bangsamoro to shape their parliament directly and to prove that the democracy here is strong,” said Lagdameo.

Authorities reiterated their commitment to ensure peaceful and credible elections under heightened coordination efforts, with the PNP emphasizing its operational readiness in line with its campaign for more responsive public service.

Despite the momentum in preparations, the electoral process is being shaped by ongoing legal and political challenges.

A petition has been filed before the Comelec opposing the registration of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The petition raised allegations of election law violations, including gun ban breaches and alleged foreign funding, and called for the denial of the party’s accreditation as a regional parliamentary political party.

UBJP President Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, however, maintained that the party’s participation is essential to the electoral process, citing its historical role in the creation of BARMM.

At the same time, separate petitions have been lodged before the Supreme Court and Comelec urging the swift resolution of disputes involving BARMM redistricting and party accreditation rules. Petitioners warned that delays could affect voter representation and create confusion ahead of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

They also urged the poll body to intensify voter education efforts, stressing the importance of clarifying that the BARMM parliamentary elections will proceed as scheduled on September.

The BARMM elections, set for September 14, will mark the first parliamentary polls in the region, transitioning governance from the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority to a fully elected 80-member parliament. 

The exercise is widely seen as a key milestone in the implementation of the 2014 peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Contributed story)