Philippines BARMM votes: 13 parties battle for power in historic poll

On Monday, September 14, 2026, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held its first-ever parliamentary elections, marking a significant step towards elected self-government in the region after decades of conflict. Thirteen political parties contested for 80 seats in the 80-member parliament, which will officially transition the region from an interim body to a fully elected one.

With 2,393,202 registered voters, each voter had the opportunity to choose one district representative, one parliamentary political party, and six parliamentary sectoral organisations representing settlers, women, youth, ulama, and traditional leaders. Voting took place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with early voting options available for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.

The elections also signaled the end of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), a key milestone in the peace process spanning half a century of negotiations, armed conflict, political upheavals, and constitutional challenges. The Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) noted that the stable political environment could attract multi-billion peso investments, creating new jobs in tourism, agriculture, and healthcare.

The official declaration of the elections as a special non-working day aimed to ensure maximum voter participation. President Marcos Jr. emphasized that the election represented an opportunity to consolidate peace gains through democratic institutions. Former senior member of the MILF panel in peace negotiations, Datu Michael O. Mastura, welcomed the MILF's participation and stressed the importance of transitioning from an armed conflict group to a party seeking seats in a parliament.