19/08/2026
COLUMN | ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฒ
On September 14, the historic BARMM Parliamentary Elections will be held, with 13 regional parliamentary political parties vying for seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
For the Bangsamoro, September 14 is more than another election date. It represents a historic transition from an appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority to an elected Parliamentโthe first regular parliamentary elections under the Bangsamoro political system.
After decades of armed struggle for self-determination, peace agreements, the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and repeated delays in the parliamentary elections, the Bangsamoro will finally have the opportunity to elect its own regional representatives.
Established in 2019, the BARMM replaced the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and introduced a new system of regional autonomy and parliamentary government. The 2026 elections will determine who will form the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament and help shape the region's political institutions and governance.
The question before Bangsamoro voters is therefore not simply who will win.
It is what kind of Parliament they want to build.
With 13 regional political parties competing, voters have more than personalities to consider. They must examine the parties' platforms, policies, candidates, and visions for the future of the Bangsamoro. The election should be a contest of ideas, not merely a contest of political machinery.
This makes voter education and public debate essential.
On August 27, the 13 regional political parties are set to face one another in the First BARMM Parliamentary Elections Debate in Cotabato City. Such a platform provides voters an opportunity to listen, question, compare, and scrutinize the parties before casting their ballots.
The Bangsamoro deserves more than campaign promises. It deserves clear answers on poverty, education, healthcare, peace and security, transparency, accountability, and representation.
The Moro struggle for self-determination was never simply about acquiring political power. It was also about dignity, justice, representation, and the right of the people to participate in determining their own future.
That history must not be forgotten during this election.
A historic election does not automatically guarantee genuine democracy. Democracy requires free and informed voters, credible institutions, responsible political parties, independent scrutiny, and citizens who remain engaged beyond Election Day.
There are challenges aheadโfrom entrenched political interests and political dynasties to misinformation, vote-buying, intimidation, and the concentration of political power. These challenges must be confronted if the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament is to carry genuine democratic legitimacy.
On September 14, the decision will belong to the voters.
Protect the vote from intimidation.
Protect it from misinformation.
Protect it from vote-buying and coercion.
Protect it from political violence.
Most importantly, protect the voter's freedom to choose.
The vote belongs to the people. The Parliament will belong to the people. And the future of the Bangsamoro must be shaped by an informed, free, and empowered electorate.
The Moro struggle continuesโnot simply as a struggle for political power, but as a continuing struggle for meaningful representation, accountable governance, dignity, and self-determination.
On September 14, the question is not merely who will win.
It is what kind of Parliament will the Bangsamoro choose to build?
Protect the Bangsamoro Vote.
โ๐ผ : Gregorio
