(Photo from the PCO)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the conduct of the first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), describing the polls as a major milestone in the region’s transition to an elected parliamentary government.
Marcos met with interim BARMM Chief Minister and Bangsamoro Federal Party chair Abdulraof Macacua at Malacañang following the Sept. 14 elections.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, the meeting tackled the priorities of the newly elected Bangsamoro government, including the continued implementation of development programs and delivery of essential services.
The two sides also discussed the normalization track of the peace process and efforts to sustain peace and development gains in the region.
Macacua won the parliamentary seat for the third legislative district of Maguindanao del Norte.
No single party secured an absolute majority in the 80-seat parliament. The Bangsamoro Federal Party won 31 seats, while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-backed United Bangsamoro Justice Party secured 30.
The Palace said the elections were generally peaceful. An initial government assessment after election day also described the polls as generally peaceful and orderly despite isolated incidents.
The first regular BARMM parliamentary elections were held on Sept. 14 under Republic Act No. 12317, which reset the polls to September 2026.
Malacañang said the elections marked the completion of the political track of the Bangsamoro peace process and the region’s transition to a fully elected parliamentary government
