BARMM chief minister seeks election as independent candidate

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May 11, 2026 | 12:00am

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has filed his candidacy for the BARMM parliamentary election in September.

The certificate of candidacy of Abdulrauf Macacua, figurehead of the 80-seat BARMM parliament, was filed by his son, Jamel, at the office of the Commission on Elections in Cotabato City on May 7.

Macacua is running as an independent candidate.

Sixteen regional political parties, including the United Bangsamoro Justice Party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, have expressed interest in participating in the BARMM polls.

The Bangsamoro Federalist Party, one of the four largest political groups in the region, earlier announced its support for Macacua. The regional blocs “Serbisyong Inklusibo, Alyansang Progresibo” in Lanao del Sur and Bangsamoro Party of the Moro National Liberation Front were also reported to be “friendly” to the BARMM chief.

Macacua is aspiring for a district parliamentary seat covering parts of Cotabato City and nearby towns south of Maguindanao del Norte, one of the five provinces in BARMM.

Aside from Macacua, former House representative Bai Sandra Sema and physician Kadil Sinolinding Jr. have filed their certificates of candidacy before the Comelec.

Sema seeks to represent in BARMM the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte while Sinolinding vies for a parliament seat for the newly created towns of Kapalawan, Old Kaabacan, Malidegao and Ligawasan in the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area in Cotabato.