COTABATO CITY, BARMM — With the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) preparing for its first regular parliamentary elections on September 14, Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento is urging candidates, political parties and other stakeholders to put peace, democratic participation and electoral integrity above political rivalry.
Sarmiento, who heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), has emphasized that the success of the historic polls should not simply be measured by which political party or candidate wins.
Instead, the crucial test is whether Bangsamoro voters can cast their ballots freely, safely and without intimidation.
“On September 14, our success will not be measured by who wins or loses,” Sarmiento said after the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed guidelines covering ceasefire-related coordination during the elections. The agreement seeks to prevent misunderstandings between government forces and the MILF while maintaining peace and political neutrality during the vote.
A historic vote for BARMM
The September 14 election is a major milestone in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054).
For the first time, voters in the autonomous region will elect members of an 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament that will replace the current transitional, appointive system.
The Parliament will consist of 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives and eight sectoral or reserved representatives. The Parliament, rather than the electorate directly, will choose the Chief Minister.
The election has already endured several postponements. It was originally expected to take place in 2022, but the timetable was repeatedly moved before being reset for September 14, 2026.
That makes the upcoming vote particularly significant: it is intended to move BARMM from transitional governance toward a more permanent elected regional government.
Government and MILF strengthen election coordination
The peace adviser’s appeal comes as the national government and the MILF have stepped up coordination ahead of election day.
Government and MILF peace panels recently signed guidelines for their respective ceasefire mechanisms to coordinate during the September 14 elections. The agreement involves the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG).
The objective is to minimize misunderstandings between government security forces and the MILF, maintain political neutrality and help protect the peace environment during the electoral process.
MILF Peace Implementing Panel chair Mohagher Iqbal has described the election as more than an ordinary political contest, saying it represents a major step toward having the region governed by leaders with a direct mandate from the Bangsamoro people.
Security remains a major concern
Despite extensive preparations, the election is taking place against a backdrop of political tensions and security concerns.
A recent report by peace and security watchdog Climate Conflict Action warned of persistent gun violence, political polarization, clan-related conflicts and renewed extremist threats in parts of the region. The group also raised concerns about voter confidence, voter education and the possibility of electoral manipulation.
Authorities have therefore intensified security preparations.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said preparations for the election were already about 98 percent complete and announced the deployment of thousands of police personnel, while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed security and law-enforcement agencies to ensure a safe, peaceful and credible election.
Marcos has repeatedly said that every Bangsamoro voter must be able to exercise the right to vote freely and without fear.
Parties warned to follow election rules
The Commission on Elections has also reminded competing parties and candidates that the historic nature of the election does not exempt them from electoral laws.
Comelec has warned regional parliamentary political parties against prohibited campaign activities and said it would not hesitate to impose sanctions, including disqualification or cancellation of registration, when violations are established.
There are 13 regional political parties on the certified list for the parliamentary election, according to Comelec records.
The campaign period runs until September 12, two days before election day.
The stakes go beyond September 14
The election is not simply about determining who will occupy seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
It represents the political component of a much larger peace process that has sought to replace armed conflict with democratic institutions and regional self-government.
Sarmiento has stressed that the political track is only one part of the broader peace agreement. The normalization track — covering areas such as decommissioning, security, socioeconomic development, camp transformation and transitional justice — will continue beyond the elections.
That means the September 14 vote could become both an endpoint and a new beginning for the Bangsamoro peace process.
The immediate challenge, however, is clear: candidates and political parties must compete vigorously without allowing political rivalry to undermine peace.
As the historic election approaches, the message from the peace process is increasingly direct — the credibility of BARMM’s first parliamentary election will depend not only on who wins, but on whether the Bangsamoro people are allowed to choose their leaders freely, peacefully and without intimidation.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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