COTABATO CITY, Philippines – More than 100 individuals and eight political parties have formally declared their intent to seek seats in the regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the region’s first parliamentary elections set for May 2025.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) wrapped up the six-day filing period for certificates of candidacy (COCs) and party manifests at 5 pm on Saturday, November 9, counting 109 aspirants for district seats, together with eight registered regional political parties, with at least 320 nominees vying for positions in the BARMM.
The 109 candidates are set to compete for 25 district seats in the BARMM parliament, a reduction from the original 32 seats following a Supreme Court (SC) ruling in September that excluded Sulu province and its seven seats from the predominantly Muslim region.
Among the prominent district seat aspirants are former BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, former Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas, BARMM Member of Parliament Ishak Mastura, and BARMM Deputy Minister of the Interior Ibrahim Ibay.
The 109 individual aspirants include five from the Special Geographic Area in Cotabato province, 10 from Tawi-Tawi, 14 from Basilan, 41 from Lanao del Sur, 24 from Maguindanao del Norte, and 15 from Maguindanao del Sur.
Each party registered in BARMM was required to submit a nominee list for the 40 parliamentary seats reserved for political parties. These seats, similar to party-list seats in the House of Representatives, will be allotted based on each party’s standing in the election.
The eight parties are Moro Ako, Pro-Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Party (BAPA), Mahardika, United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC), Raayat, and United Advocates for Settler Communities (1ASC).
Eight more seats in the BARMM parliament are reserved for underrepresented sectors.
The filing period opened on Monday, November 4, led by Comelec Chairman George Garcia.
The Moro Ako Party, headed by lawyer Najeeb Taib, was the first to submit documents.
Throughout the week, other parties, including UBJP led by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, Pro-Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Party (BAPA), Mahardika, and BGC, filed their COCs.
The BGC was represented by Abdulrahman Rubil Mangudadatu, son of Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mariam Mangudadatu and former Sultan Kudarat Governor Teng Mangudadatu, who is now a gubernatorial aspirant in Maguindanao del Norte.
The BAPA, led by former Cotabato City mayor Muslimin Sema, and Mahardika, headed by Ustadz Adib Tan Misuari, were among the last to complete their filings.
So far, only the UBJP released a list of its 40 nominees. Here’s its list:
Rappler will update this report as soon as the other parties release their lists of nominees.
According to Cotabato City Police Director Colonel Michael John Mangahis, security during the filing period was tight, particularly in the BARMM regional center, with around 550 police officers stationed throughout key locations. The process proceeded without any major untoward incidents. – Rappler.com