Bangsamoro Holds First Parliamentary Election, Resulting in a Hung Parliament

On September 14 2026 the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held its first regular parliamentary election, with about 2.4 million registered voters choosing 80 parliamentarians. Unofficial tallies gave the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) 632,944 votes and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) 593,256 votes; neither reached the 41 seats needed for a majority. The BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) captured roughly 20.5 percent of the vote, positioning it as a potential kingmaker. Turnout exceeded 80 percent, but election-day violence left five people dead and 19 injured, prompting continued security deployments.

Southern Philippines' Bangsamoro election likely to result in hung parliament Al Jazeera (website)Muslim-majority region in southern Philippines holds first parliamentary election Al Jazeera (website)Al Jazeera (website)International observers to monitor first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls Philippines Holds First Bangsamoro Parliament Election Bangsamoro’s long journey: From peace table to ballot

The 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) ended decades of armed struggle by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and led to the 2019 creation of BARMM under the Bangsamoro Organic Law. An appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority governed until the 2026 vote, which marks the shift to elected parliamentary rule.

Bangsamoro’s long journey: From peace table to ballot International observers to monitor first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls Southern Philippines' Bangsamoro election likely to result in hung parliament First Parliament: What Bangsamoro people vote for Muslim-majority region in southern Philippines holds first parliamentary election

• Votes (unofficial): BFP 632,944; UBJP 593,256; BGC 374,440; Bangsamoro People’s Democratic Party 66,543.

Southern Philippines' Bangsamoro election likely to result in hung parliament

• Seats needed for majority: 41 of 80.

Al Jazeera (website)

• Voter turnout: > 80 percent of 2.4 million.

Washington's Top News (WTOP)

• Security deployment: > 20,000 soldiers and police.

Muslim Region in Southern Philippines Holds First Autonomy Election

• Casualties: COMELEC reports three deaths; other observers record five deaths and eighteen injuries.

Muslim Region in Southern Philippines Holds First Autonomy Election

Deputy police director Brigadier General Jemuel Siason said forces would remain deployed after the proclamation of winners to keep the situation stable. Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua framed the election as the full exercise of the people’s sovereign will under the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Mel Sarmen Sarmiento called the poll a “defining milestone” for peace and self-governance.

International observers to monitor first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls

• Casualty figures: COMELEC cites three fatalities; journalistic accounts and NAMFREL record five deaths and eighteen injuries.

NAMFREL preliminary assessment of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

• Vote totals: Partial results from GMA News, Rappler, and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting differ slightly, reflecting the still-unfinalized count.

NAMFREL preliminary assessment of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

• “If the party does not get majority of the seats, we will look for parties who can be our allies so that we can form a coalition,” — Al Haj Murad, liberation front chairman

Al Jazeera (website)

• “We will still hold our deployment in place even after the proclamation of winners. We are trying to ensure that the security situation will remain stable,” — Brigadier General Jemuel Siason, deputy police director of the Bangsamoro region

Al Jazeera (website)

• “As enshrined in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), this election marks the full exercise of the people’s sovereign will—the formal transition from an interim government to a democratically elected Parliament,” — Abdulraof Macacua, interim chief minister

International observers to monitor first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls

Coalition negotiations are expected to intensify in the coming weeks. The newly elected parliament is slated to convene after October 30 2026 to elect the region’s chief minister and formalize the governing coalition, a step identified as critical to sustaining the peace process.

NAMFREL preliminary assessment of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections