The first BARMM parliamentary elections formally conclude the authority of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and open the path for an elected parliament to convene, choose a Chief Minister, and take their oath of office by October 30, 2026, ending years of provisional governance that the Bangsamoro people have endured since the region was established in 2019.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Presidential Assistant and Undersecretary Noel Baraceros made the statement in an interview on DZRH News program The Situation Report on Monday, September 14, explaining the historic significance of the day’s elections for the Bangsamoro peace process.
The presidential assistant said the importance of the election cannot be overstated: it fulfills the political track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and opens the next phase of the peace roadmap.
“Napaka-importante po ng ating ginagawang first parliamentary election. Ito po kasi ang magpapatunay, based sa ating Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, part po ito ng tinatawag nating political track. Ang susunod dito ay ang tinatawag nating normalization track,” Baraceros said.
“So dito po kasi, officially magkakaroon na ng elected government ang ating Bangsamoro Region, and magkakaroon po ng transition from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to a duly elected government ng Bangsamoro,” he said.
Baraceros said the process after election day follows a clear legal procedure: COMELEC proclaims the winners, the newly elected Members of Parliament convene, they elect their Chief Minister from among themselves, and the new government takes over from the BTA.
“Susundin po nila kung ano ang proseso talaga ng pagta-transfer. After po kasi na mag-declare ang mga nanalo, dito sila naman po ang mamimili, for example, ng kanilang Chief Minister. Nasa COMELEC po iyan ang proseso. Hindi lang po natin alam ang timeline nila, but hopefully ang parang timeline nila is by October 30 makapag-take oath na sila,” he said.
The presidential assistant said OPAPRU is optimistic the declaration can be made quickly despite the day’s disruptions, and that the new parliament will begin its work with a clear democratic mandate from the Bangsamoro people.
“Sana po ma-declare ng maaga, despite the fact na nagkaroon ng konting delay sa botohan kanina sa ibang lugar at nagkaroon po ng kaguluhan,” Baraceros said.
He said the conclusion of the political track through elections now allows the normalization track to proceed with greater momentum, covering the integration of former MILF combatants into the AFP and PNP and the delivery of socio-economic services to communities across the Bangsamoro region.
