Marawi City — After years of delay, the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have officially kicked off, with candidates for district seats beginning to file their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).
Barmm Commission on Elections Regional Director Rey Sumalipao said filing for the 32 district parliamentary seats started Monday and will run until May 7, ahead of the Sept. 14 polls.
“I think there will be no more delays. The election process has started. Election Day will be on September 14,” Sumalipao told reporters.
Nine candidates from Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP), led by Princess Pala Amera Lanto Gandamra, formally filed their COCs before supporters gathered at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol Gymnasium.
Gandamra is the wife of Marawi Vice Mayor Majul Gandamra.
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Candidates from the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) did not appear during the opening day of filing.
Sumalipao said UBJP officials informed the poll body that their candidates intend to file on May 7 while awaiting accreditation as an official political party.
He said the Comelec en banc is expected to resolve the group’s accreditation before the filing deadline. Even without accreditation, Sumalipao said UBJP bets may still run as independent candidates.
The UBJP, considered the political wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is also facing a pending disqualification petition before the Comelec.
According to Sumalipao, petitioner Sahaludin Panambulan accused the group of violating the Omnibus Election Code by allegedly displaying armed mujahideen fighters during political assemblies.
The MILF signed a landmark peace agreement with the Philippine government in 2014, paving the way for the creation of the BARMM and ending decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Khalid Adiong, Lanao del Sur vice governor and SIAP president, said the party is aiming for a “9-0 victory” in the province.
Adiong said SIAP has forged alliances with the Bangsamoro Grand Alliance led by Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman and the Bangsamoro Federal Party of Naguib Sinarimbo for the September elections.
He added that no single bloc is expected to dominate the 80-seat Barmm parliament, making political alliances crucial in forming the region’s future leadership.
