Voters in the Muslim majority Bangsamoro region of the southern Philippines went to the polls on Monday for the territory’s first parliamentary elections, a major step in its long effort for greater self rule after decades of armed conflict.
Nearly 2.4 million voters were eligible to choose members of the 80 seat Bangsamoro parliament. Voting began at 7 am local time and was scheduled to continue until 7 pm.
The election was created as part of a 2014 peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the country’s largest Muslim rebel group.
80 Seats Up for Election
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, commonly known as BARMM, has around 4.5 to 5 million people. It covers five provinces, three cities and several smaller areas across Mindanao and nearby islands.
The 80 member parliament will include 40 representatives elected through political parties, 32 from electoral districts and eight representatives for women, youth and other sectors.
The parliament will also choose the region’s chief minister, who will lead the executive branch.
Around 700 candidates from 13 political parties are contesting the election. Results were expected to emerge after voting, with some reports indicating that the final results could be known on Tuesday.
Election Marred by Violence and Irregularities
The historic vote was affected by several security incidents.
Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia said Cotabato City was placed under the commission’s control after a shooting late Sunday killed three people and injured 15 others.
An improvised explosive device also detonated in the city, injuring the person carrying it, while another shooting incident was reported without causing injuries.
In Maluso town in Basilan province, voting was delayed after election officials found pre shaded ballots in 36 of 68 precincts. Garcia ordered new ballots to be printed for the affected polling stations.
More than 20,000 soldiers and police personnel were deployed across the region to maintain security during the election.
From Armed Conflict to Self Rule
The Bangsamoro region has been at the centre of an armed struggle for decades. Government estimates say around 150,000 combatants and civilians were killed in the conflict since the 1970s.
The 2014 peace agreement marked a major change. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front gave up its demand for an independent Muslim state in exchange for wider regional autonomy. Its fighters also agreed to gradually leave armed struggle and return to civilian life.
The agreement led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and an interim government in 2019.
The parliamentary election was originally scheduled for 2022 but was postponed several times because of various political and administrative issues.
Election Seen as Test of Peace Deal
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is contesting the election through its political wing, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party. The party wants to continue overseeing the implementation of remaining parts of the peace agreement, including the decommissioning of former fighters and their transition to civilian life.
The party is facing competition from several groups, including the Bangsamoro Federalist Party.
Election officials said international observers were also monitoring the process. More than 100 observers from international organisations and foreign delegations were expected to observe the polls.
“The elections stand on generations of Bangsamoro struggle for homeland, identity, and self determination, in the face of dispossession, marginalization, conflict and sacrifice,” Garcia said in an earlier statement.
The election is widely seen as an important test of whether the peace process can deliver stable self government and lasting peace in the Muslim majority region.
