Guest Editorial: From UNYPHIL Women’s Wing one of the pioneering CBCS Network Member.
It is already an accepted phenomenon in the Bangsamoro that politics and elections are characterized by “polarization and political hopping”. It had been documented by many sources ever since that elections are influenced by “Guns, Goons and Gold” (3Gs) or Vote-Buying” and other election frauds. Issues of election manipulations, intimidation, mud-slinging up to killings during every election period, have long been recorded.
1st Parliamentary Election and Social status:
The just concluded 1st Parliamentary Election conducted in September 14, 2026, showed many proofs of social 
disintegration. As in the past only the masses had been obviously were greatly affected. For this election it is noted and seen in the split of the officers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who had been together in the Bangsamoro struggle for their right to self-determination for the last five decades. Whether, the creation of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) is as propaganda or real, what is true are both have hundreds of thousands or even millions of social bases that felt uncertainties and confused with the situations. And these can be shown both in reality and in social media platforms of people divided among the followers of every parties especially between the UBJP and BFP sympathizers.
The most noted split are among the Ulama and Asatidz in partaking the election campaigns and both opposing parties are invoking Islamic precepts with same or similar verses but with differing interpretations to suit to their respective parties. In the past, ordinary Bangsamoro whenever confronted with contradicting issues always they find right understanding of issue through the guides of the Ulama/Asatidz. But after this election, the greater masses of Bangsamoro could not anymore rely to their Islamic Learned as they are already entrenched in the dirty politics and election.
What had been improved in Election manner? The improvement though negatively are noticeable especially in Cotabato City, not only this September 2026 election but even the last May 2022 and 2025 elections is formation of “Mob Gangs” by hundreds in numbers of unknown identity had been roaming around the streets going to one precinct to another precinct complete with wooden bats, steel irons, with sling-shots, bladed weapons with masks and occasionally firing shots even at the fronts of Police and AFP authorities. Mobbing every prospect of being supporters of opposing parties. There were also reported destruction of properties and vehicles and blocking of roads using heavy vehicles at the watch of the security forces. In fact five (5) of these mob gang were killed and fifty-three (53) wounded some seriously. There were also issues of massive “pre-shading of Ballots” in different areas. Also massive vote-buying had been recorded in different parts of BARMM areas.
Political Gains and Challenges:
The 1st Parliamentary Election, marked the end of the transition period and start of the regular governance of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The BARMM regular governance is expected to reduce the manipulation of both Congress and Malacanang in running the affairs of the Regional Government.
Another best achievement in the 1st Parliamentary Election is the closure of the Political Track in consideration with 
the counting of elements of the implementation of the GPH-MILF Peace Agreement in relation to the signing of the “Exit Document” and eventually will be the end of peace process in the Political Track.
The closure of the Political Track, will be an opportunity for the GPH-MILF Implementing Panels to focus on the completion of the “Normalization Track” which had barely moved in the last seven years of peace agreement implementation.
On the other side of the coin, the most critical negative effect of the 1st Parliamentary Election held in September 14, 2026 is the biggest among the many violations of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) or RA11054. Simply, because BOL says: ”Parliamentary Election shall be synchronized with the National Elections..” and September election is never a synchronize with the national elections. The resetting of Parliamentary election was done by Congress without plebiscitary consent of the Bangsamoro. It should be remembered that BOL is ratified by millions of the Bangsamoro and it is only proper that once BOL shall be amended shall be subjected to the consent of the Bangsamoro who ratified the law.
The long-term effect of this amendment is that it will become a “Precedent” and opening opportunity for Congress to amend any or all provisions of the RA11054 according to the whims and caprices of Congress or presidents of the Philippines without the consent of the Bangsamoro people.
The Security dynamics during and after the Election:
As already discussed during the election of several armed confrontations in Cotabato City alone, there were fatalities occurred notwithstanding those in many parts of BARMM areas. As already known, tens of thousands of Police and AFP contingents coming from Luzon and Visayas deployed in BARMM areas purposely for securing the Parliamentary Election.
Deliberately or coincidentally, a day after the election a fierce encounter happened in Barangay Manaulanen in Tugunan Municpality of Special Geographic Area (SGA) that incurred a number of casualties both on the side of AFP and the Armed Groups. The military operation claimed it’s a legal operation against lawless elements. However, on the other side relatives of the so-called armed groups says that they are legitimate members of the MILF -BIAF Forces targeted by the military without proper coordination as stipulated under Agreement of General Cessation of Hostilities (ACGH) signed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is still holding these days.
Some pundits feared that the tens of thousands Armed Forces of the Philippnes deployed in different parts of BARMM had been retained or not even pulled out as an advance forces in preparation for a bigger plan, possibly martial law declaration as some predicted.
The Remaining Challenge:
The unfinished business in the just concluded 1st Parliamentary Election the Bangsamoro Governance is determining the position of Chief Minister and formation of the majority that will constitute the Government of the Day under the actual situation as results of the Parliament Election that: BFP got 31 Seats, UBJP got 30 Seats , BGC got 15 Seats and the NMIP with 2 Seats and other minority parties got one each.
The close contest for majority and traditionally under Parliamentary System is where the Chief Minister will come from, then is between the BFP and UBJP. But since none of them got the simple majority of 41 Seats, then comes the important role of the BGC in making any of the two as majority. And this is why many called the BGC as the “King-Maker”.
The challenge remains until it will be over in October 30, 2026 Inaugural Session of the Bangsamoro Parliament. Although, the period showed numerous scenario filled the air of possibilities and best alternatives. One popular demand of public including some legal minded personalities opined that it is best to elect MILF Chairman Ahod B. Ebrahim as Chief Minister. Caveat is if the UBJP is minoritized, would it be lawful or proper that Chief Minister will be coming from the minority or else from anyone that public whims and caprices?
There were popular demands for “rainbow coalitions” in forming government of the day. However, some critical minds that this scenario is vulnerable towards dictatorship governance in the absence of “check and balance” which is a traditional role of Minority Bloc or danger that even the voice of the people maybe lost in the wilderness. While others advances “power-sharing” in Parliament as the best alternatives.
Anent the above, we are on the belief that the best alternative is to run the course of law and traditions in a Parliamentary Systems of governance. Let the majority Party rule while maintaining a principled Minority Bloc. As to the power sharing scheme, the Parliament is free to define and legislate equity of power between the majority and minority blocs.
By: Noraida C. Abu, President UNYPHIL Women’s Wing
Recent Comments