Marawi City, Philippines – The inaugural parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) concluded Monday with no party securing an absolute majority, resulting in a hung legislature. Unofficial figures indicated that two rival factions originating from the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) each captured approximately 30 percent of the vote, according to a partial count by GMA News.
With over 99 percent of ballots tallied by Tuesday evening, neither bloc reached the 41 seats required to govern alone in the 80-member body. The political deadlock follows a period of intensified internal strife after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. replaced longtime MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim with former commander Abdulraof Macacua as chief minister last year, deepening divisions within the Muslim-majority region.
Macacua, leading the Bangsamoro Federalist Party, conceded that forming a coalition is “an unavoidable situation.” Ebrahim, whose United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) aimed for a commanding lead, expressed similar willingness to negotiate with other groups if necessary. “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,” Ebrahim told reporters.
The lack of a clear winner has sparked anxiety among residents wary of a return to armed conflict. The MILF has suspended the disarmament of former fighters, citing unfulfilled government promises regarding aid. Fears were amplified by statements from Commander Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar, a defiant MILF leader known for suggesting that electoral defeat could reignite war. Macapaar, 64, cast his ballot for the first time on Monday while also running for parliament.
Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who led government peace negotiations, praised the parties for their efforts to transition into electoral politics. Authorities described the voting process as generally peaceful, though security forces remain on high alert. Several shooting incidents on election day left at least three people dead and others injured. Brigadier General Jemuel Siason, deputy police director for the region, stated that deployments would continue post-election to maintain stability.
For locals like Alinair Aracaya and his wife Norhailyn Madayan, the vote represented hard-won progress after years of fleeing conflict and clan wars. However, they acknowledged the fragility of peace, recalling the 2016 ISIS-linked siege of Marawi City that displaced thousands and destroyed homes. Resident Asraf Balt, who was nine during the siege, noted that his family had to rebuild their home from scratch, while hundreds of others remain in temporary shelters.
Analyn Pangandaman, who has waited nearly nine years for government compensation for her destroyed home, expressed hope that the new parliament would prioritize reparations. She noted that financial hardship has prevented her from visiting her parents, who live only a few towns away. Pangandaman urged winning parties to collaborate for the region’s progress, stating that reconciliation is essential to delivering on promises made to victims of the conflict.
Historic moment though, moving from war to ballots. Let’s see if they can actually govern together after all this strife.
Is anyone else worried about the suspension of disarmament? This feels like a ticking time bomb if promises aren’t kept.
Thirty percent each? That split is razor-thin. No wonder they are already conceding that a coalition is unavoidable.
Fragile peace indeed. I hope the coalition talks prioritize reparations for those still suffering from the Marawi siege.