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The inaugural parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have concluded without any political party winning an outright majority, according to unofficial tallies. The outcome leaves the newly established 80-seat regional assembly in the southern Philippines in a state of political deadlock, requiring rival groups to negotiate power-sharing agreements.
Unofficial returns reported by the major television network GMA News indicated that with more than 99 percent of the ballots tabulated by Tuesday evening, the two principal opposing parties had each gathered over 30 percent of the total vote. Because neither group managed to capture the 41 seats necessary to control the parliament independently, both sides are now forced to explore coalition partners to form a functional regional government.
The electoral contest marks a critical milestone following the landmark 2014 peace accord signed between the Philippine national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. That agreement brought an end to decades of armed rebellion fought over self-rule and autonomy, leading to a 2019 referendum in which voters formally approved the establishment of the autonomous Muslim-majority region and ushered in an interim administration.
Political stability in the region has faced considerable strain in recent months following political changes instituted by the national government. Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. removed longtime Moro Islamic Liberation Front chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim from his role as chief minister, naming former front commander Abdulraof Macacua to the post. This intervention exacerbated existing internal political fractures within the former separatist movement.
Macacua, who currently heads the Bangsamoro Federalist Party, has publicly recognized the necessity of working with other political entities to build a governing majority. In the wake of Monday’s balloting, he characterized the process of forging a legislative coalition as an unavoidable outcome given the fragmented distribution of seats.
Ebrahim, leading the rival United Bangsamoro Justice Party, similarly signaled a willingness to engage in political discussions after voting. While he had voiced hopes that his party would claim the majority of the legislative seats outright, he stated that his organization would actively reach out to prospective allies to assemble a governing coalition if it fell short of a solo majority.
The absence of a decisive victor has generated unease among local residents who fear the deadlock could threaten the fragile regional peace. Tensions have been heightened because the front previously suspended the formal disarmament and decommissioning of its former combatants, pointing to the central government’s delay in delivering promised socioeconomic assistance packages.
Anxieties over potential unrest were voiced by voters such as Alinair Aracaya, who noted that a prominent commander had cautioned that a failure to win the vote might reignite conflict. Aracaya was referencing 64-year-old Abdullah Macapaar, widely known as Commander Bravo. Recognized as one of the group's most defiant leaders, Macapaar ran for a parliamentary seat and cast a ballot for the first time in his life on Monday.
Despite the political tensions and close results, former chief government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer offered praise for the political transition. In a statement posted to social media, she commended the competing parties for developing the political capacity necessary to leave armed rebellion behind and actively participate within the framework of democratic electoral systems.
Security across the territory remained tight, with regional law enforcement reporting that the balloting was generally peaceful despite isolated acts of violence. Multiple election-day shooting incidents resulted in at least three fatalities and left several other individuals wounded, prompting authorities to maintain heightened vigilance throughout the vote-counting and proclamation period.
Brigadier General Jemuel Siason, the deputy police director for the Bangsamoro region, confirmed that security personnel would remain stationed across the region even after the official winners are proclaimed. He explained that law enforcement is maintaining its operational presence specifically to safeguard regional stability and prevent post-electoral disruptions.
For long-time residents, maintaining peace is essential for preserving the economic gains made since the signing of the peace accords. Norhailyn Madayan, the wife of Aracaya, recalled a youth disrupted by military presence and clan warfare. She noted that sustained peace has allowed her family to establish a viable business and build a concrete residence, though she remains conscious of the fragile nature of local security.
The region still bears the physical and emotional scars of past escalations, including a brief 2016 takeover of their town by ISIL-linked militants, followed by the devastating 2017 siege of Marawi City that prompted heavy military air strikes. Resident Asraf Balt, who was nine years old during the siege, recalled returning to find his family home completely ruined, noting that while his family managed to rebuild, hundreds of displaced neighbors still remain confined to temporary shelters.
Other residents continue to wait for recovery aid, such as Analyn Pangandaman, whose family has spent nearly nine years awaiting government reparations to reconstruct their destroyed house. Pangandaman explained that the resulting financial hardship has left her unable to afford travel to visit her parents in neighboring towns.
With the conclusion of this historic vote, citizens across the Bangsamoro region are calling on newly elected legislators to resolve their divisions swiftly. Residents emphasize that only a collaborative and functional coalition government will be capable of securing lasting peace, expediting stalled reparations, and delivering the economic progress promised by the autonomy process.
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