Former Muslim Rebels Dominate First-Ever Parliamentary Elections in Southern Philippine Autonomous Region

MANILA, Philippines — Candidates from two rival political parties with ties to a former rebel group led the historic first parliamentary elections in the southern Philippines’ predominantly Muslim autonomous region, official results announced Wednesday.

The vote marked a pivotal milestone in the journey toward self-governance for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, an area long plagued by violent separatist conflicts until a landmark 2014 peace agreement saw Muslim rebels lay down arms in exchange for promises of greater autonomy.

Parties affiliated with the former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) secured the largest shares of votes, though no single party achieved an outright majority. As a result, it remains uncertain which faction will hold sway in the newly constituted regional parliament.

Under the terms of the peace deal, the autonomous region superseded a previous setup with expanded authority, increased funding, and broader jurisdiction. In return, approximately 40,000 MILF fighters were officially demobilized and integrated into civilian life through livelihood programs and social support initiatives.

Since the 1970s, an estimated 150,000 people — both combatants and civilians — have lost their lives in ongoing unrest across the southern Philippines, stunting economic growth in what remains one of the nation’s most impoverished regions. The area also became a sanctuary for extremist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, until a U.S.-backed counterinsurgency campaign significantly weakened their presence.

According to Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia, voter turnout reached an impressive 84% among nearly 2.4 million eligible voters. The region encompasses five provinces, three cities, and 63 villages.

The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), led by transitional Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua — a senior figure within the former MILF leadership — took the lead with roughly 36% of the vote and secured 31 out of the 80 available seats in the Bangsamoro parliament, based on final tallies released by the electoral commission.

Trailing closely behind was the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), helmed by former interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, who previously served as chairman of the MILF. The UBJP garnered over 32% of votes and claimed 30 parliamentary seats.

Alongside BFP and UBJP, two additional regional parties surpassed the mandatory 2.5% voter threshold necessary to gain representation in the Bangsamoro parliament.

Members of the new parliament are set to take their oaths on October 30 and subsequently elect the region’s chief minister, who doubles as head of the executive department. A minimum of 41 votes — just over half the chamber — will be required to secure the position.

In a message posted to his Facebook page Monday, Murad said the successful conduct of the region’s first-ever election signified the dawn of a new era: “We begin a new chapter toward a government with stronger leadership, true service, and focused on every community and village in our homeland.”

He added that the peaceful transition of power represented the culmination of decades of armed struggle now being realized through democratic means.

The significance of the polls was underscored by recent history; in May 2017, ISIS-linked militants launched a devastating siege on the city of Marawi, triggering five months of intense fighting involving ground troops and airstrikes. That conflict left over 1,100 people dead — primarily militants — and reduced much of the historic, mosque-lined city center to rubble.

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