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2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election

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2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election
Bangsamoro
← 2016
(as ARMM)		 May 12, 2025
69 of 80 seats to the Bangsamoro Parliament
41 seats needed for a majority
Turnoutpercentage
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
Al-Ittihad–UKB Suharto Mangudadatu
BGC TBC
UBJP Murad Ebrahim
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Chief Minister before
Murad Ebrahim
Independent (MILF nominee)

The 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election is scheduled to take place in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on May 12 under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the charter of the autonomous region of the Philippines.

This election will be the first regular election for the Bangsamoro Parliament and was scheduled to be held in parallel with the 2022 Philippine general election. Elected officials would assume office on June 30, 2025. They would succeed the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament.

The postponement of the elections from 2022 to 2025, was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and consequentially the absence of a Bangsamoro Electoral Code. The interim regional government and advocacy groups in Mindanao successfully campaigned to move the date of the elections.

Background

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Interim parliament

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When Bangsamoro was formed in 2019, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority served as an interim government of the autonomous region, and also acted as its interim parliament. The interim government is not officially divided through political party affiliation but is instead divided into two groups according to the nominating entity; the majority are nominees of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, while the rest are nominees of the Philippine national government.[1]

Under the law which postponed the elections to 2025, the President of the Philippines may appoint a new set of members for the interim parliament whose term will run until June 30, 2025.[2]

Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament composition
Political group Seats
Moro Islamic Liberation Front nominees
41 / 80
National Government nominees
39 / 80

Postponement

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Originally scheduled to be held on May 9, 2022, the Bangsamoro Parliament elections was postponed. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region was cited as justification, which led to the non-passage of a Bangsamoro Electoral Code. The electoral code would be the regional legislation that would define the parliamentary districts for the purpose of the regional elections. The electoral code would be legislated using data from the 2020 census which was likewise affected by the pandemic.[3] In order for the elections to be postponed, the Bangsamoro Organic Law needs to be amended.

The Bangsamoro interim government and some advocacy groups in Mindanao campaigned for the postponement of the polls.[4][5] Interim Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim reasoned that three years is not enough to restructure the region's government, and that the COVID-19 pandemic and delays on the release of the region's budget caused the delay in the transition process. The postponement also received opposition. Kusug Tausug in the House of Representatives believed that postponing the elections tantamount to justifying the interim Bangsamoro government's performance which it found inadequate. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan also opposed the extension since he wanted elected officials to lead the region by 2022.[6]

In the Congress, there was a debate if it would be necessary to hold a plebiscite for the potential postponement of the Bangsamoro elections.[7][6] The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections, amid talks on the possible postponement of the elections, wanted the polls to be "desynchronized" or be held in a different date from the national elections since a new electoral system would be used for the regional elections.[8]

The Senate approved on final reading Senate Bill No. 2214 on September 6, 2021, proposing the postponement of elections to 2025.[9] A counterpart bill in the House of Representatives was approved on September 15.[10] As the two bills were different, it had to be reconciled in a conference committee before being submitted for the president's signature for it to become law, and for it to actually postpone the election. While both bills gave the president of the Philippines the power to appoint the members for the 2019–2022 term, the House bill gave the incumbent president Rodrigo Duterte that power, while the Senate bill gave the winner of the 2022 presidential election that power.[11] In late September, both chambers ratified the conference committee's version of the bill, giving the winning president in the 2022 election the power to appoint the members of the next transitional parliament.[12]

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on October 28 the bill postponing the elections to 2025.[13] However Duterte's successor was given the ability still change the parliament's whole composition once they assume office.[14]

Second interim parliament

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Duterte's successor President Bongbong Marcos appointed a new set of members for the interim parliament. Forty-nine were reappointed while are 31 new members. The composition of 41 MILF nominees and 39 government nominees were still retained.[15]

Exclusion of Sulu from Bangsamoro

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In September 2024, Sulu province was excluded from Bangsamoro by a Supreme Court ruling consequentially excluding it from the 2025 elections, citing that its inclusion in the BARMM was unconstitutional as most of its residents voted against joining the region in the 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite.[16] The ruling has led to uncertainty regarding the fate of seven seats allotted to Sulu in the Bangsamoro Parliament.[17] On October 22, 2024, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority adopted a resolution requesting the national Congress to move the election to 2028 on account of Sulu's exclusion from the BARMM.[18] On November 4, 2024, Senate President Chiz Escudero filed Senate bill 2862, which called for the election to be postponed to May 11, 2026 in order for the BARMM "to reconfigure its jurisdictions as well as reallocate" its parliamentary seats following the exclusion of Sulu.[19] A separate bill was also filed in the House of Representatives to postpone the election until 2026 by Speaker Martin Romualdez and Lanao del Sur representaative Zia Alonto Adiong.[20]

Electoral system

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  Political parties (50%)
  Single member districts (31.3%)
  Single member districts (Sulu) (8.75%)
  Sectoral representatives (10%)

A total of 80 seats will be contested in the 2025 Bangsamoro elections. The final composition of the parliament after the elections should satisfy the following:[21][22]

  • One half (40 seats) shall be representatives of political parties elected through a system of proportional representation.
  • Not more than 40 percent (32 seats) of the members of the parliament shall be elected from single member districts.
  • Reserved seats and sectoral representatives shall constitute at least 10 percent, which in any case should be no less than 8 seats.

The Bangsamoro parliamentary districts were defined on February 28, 2024 via Bangsamoro Act No. 58.[23] The parliamentary districts exist independently from the congressional districts used to determine representation in the national House of Representatives.[24]

  • Basilan – 3 districts
  • Lanao del Sur – 8 districts
  • Maguindanao del Norte – 4 districts
  • Maguindanao del Sur – 4 districts
  • Sulu – 7 districts (not for contention after Sulu's exclusion in September 2024)[25]
  • Tawi Tawi – 3 districts
  • Cotabato City – 2 districts
  • Special Geographic Area – 1 district

The following is the distribution for the sectoral representatives seats:[22]

  • Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) – 2 seats
  • Settler Communities – 2 seats
  • Women – 1 seat
  • Youth – 1 seat
  • Traditional leaders – 1 seat
  • Ulama – 1 seat

The NMIPs, Traditional leaders, and Ulama representatives shall be elected in their own convention/assembly separate from the parliamentary elections. The names of the elected representatives should be submitted to the Commission on Elections seven days prior to the parliamentary elections and would be proclaimed simultaneously with the rest of the elected members of parliament.[22]

Calendar

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Timetable

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Activity Start End
Publication of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 35)[26] April 17, 2024
Filing of petition for registration of regional parliament political parties and regional parliament sectoral organizations[27][28] May 15, 2024 July 1, 2024
(extended from June 7, 2024[29])
Submission of Sworn Information Update Statement (SIUS) to the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) and filing of registration or accreditation of a coalition[27] August 15, 2024 (deadline)
Sumbission of Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Parliamentary Election of party representatives[27] August 30, 2024 (deadline)
Election day May 12, 2025

The period for the filing of candidacies in the election was initially scheduled from October 1-8, 2024. However, the Commission on Elections subsequently moved the date to November 4-9, 2024 due to the exclusion of Sulu from the BARMM by the Supreme Court.[30]

Parties

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When the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) was asked in May 2021 if they would participate in the not-yet-postponed Bangsamoro elections, they said that they were "ready" but expressed preference that "there would be no election yet", so that they would keep focused on "the delivery of basic services" to residents of Bangsamoro. The UBJP is an affiliate of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, whose nominees form the majority of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament.[31]

On April 24, 2024, the Bangsamoro Peoples Party (BPP), the Al Ittihad-UKB Party and the Serbisyong Inklusibo–Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) formed a electoral alliance for the 2025 election.[32]

Eligible parties should have at least 10,000 members with chapters throughout the Bangsamoro region.[33] This prerequisite remains despite Sulu's exclusion from Bangsamoro in September 2024.[34]

Contesting parties

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Eight parties have registered with the Commission on Elections as of March 2024.[35] On May 18, 2024, Sulu governor Abdusakur Mahail Tan announced that he would forego another term as governor in the 2025 local election and challenge Murad Ebrahim as Chief Minister during a rally in Maimbung. He received support from the BARMM Grand Coalition.[36] However, Tan became ineligible to run for chief minister following the Supreme Court decision excluding Sulu from the BARMM on September 9, 2024.[37]

Sixteen political groups sought accreditation for the purpose of parliamentary election.[38] The BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) registered as a regional party and not as a coalition, although two of its members Al-Ittihad-UKB and SIAP also sought separate accreditations.[39]

As of October 2, 2024, there are three accredited regional parties, including the BGC.[40]

Approved parties

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COMELEC-accredited parties
Name Leader Affiliation/s
Al-Ittihad–UKB Party Suharto Mangudadatu
BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC)[41][42] Abdusakur Mahail Tan (to be confirmed[a]) Al-Ittihad–UKB Party
Bangsamoro People's Party
Salaam Partyy
Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party
United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) Murad Ebrahim Moro Islamic Liberation Front

Aspirant parties

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COMELEC accreditation applicants
Name Leader Affiliation/s
Amanat Democratic Party (ADP)
Partido Bangon Bangsamoro (PBMM)
Bangsamoro Federal Party
Bangsamoro Party (BaPa) Muslimin Sema Moro National Liberation Front
Bangsamoro Peoples Democratic Party (Raayat)
Bangsamoro People's Party (BPP) Mujiv Hataman
Indigenous, Settler, Sama and Minorities Alliance Party (ISAMA)
Indigenous People's Democratic Party (IPDP) Froilyn Mendoza Lumad people
Mahardika Party Abdulkarim Misuari
Nurredha Misuari[44] 		Moro National Liberation Front
Moro Ako Party
Progresibong Bangsamoro Party (PRO Bangsamoro)
Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo Party (SIAP) Mamintal Adiong Jr.
United Advocates for Settler Communities

Sectoral representatives

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Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples

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Main article: 2025 Bangsamoro inter-tribal convention

Traditional leaders

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Main article: 2025 Bangsamoro intra-sultanate assembly

The traditional leaders sector represent the royal sultanates in Bangsamoro. The following institutions are explicitly named in Section 31 of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.[45]

Ulama

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Main article: 2025 Bangsamoro Ulama convention

Notes

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  1. ^ Due to Sulu's exclusion from the Bangsamoro in September 2024. Tan's status and eligibility to become a member of parliament is unclear. Tan assumes he will be disqualified from taking part[43]

References

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  1. ^ Sarmiento, Bong S. (July 7, 2021). "Rep. Mangudadatu: MILF to still lead interim Bangsamoro gov't if transition period is extended". MindaNews. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Sarmiento, Bong (October 29, 2021). "Duterte signs law postponing 2022 Bangsamoro polls to 2025". MindaNews. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  3. ^ Ismael, Javier Joe (August 27, 2021). "Senate agrees to postpone BARMM polls". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Rebollido, Rommel (September 4, 2021). "Regional polls postponement to help build 'strong Bangsamoro region' – BARMM execs". Rappler. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Advocates make 'last 2 minutes' effort to get BARMM transition extension". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  6. ^ a b de la Cruz, Jovee Marie; Medenilla, Samuel (June 28, 2021). "House considers postponing first elections in BARMM". BusinessMirror. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "No need for plebiscite to postpone BARMM elections – Tolentino". Rappler. May 26, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Sarmiento, Bong S. (March 25, 2021). "Poll watchdog wants BARMM polls desynchronized from 2022 polls". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (September 6, 2021). "Senate oks bill postponing BARMM election until 2025". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "After Senate, House passes bill postponing 2022 BARMM elections". Rappler. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Barmm extension bill tracker: Postponement of polls to 2025 goes to bicam". pcij.org. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Senate ratifies bicam report postponing 2022 BARMM polls". Rappler. September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  13. ^ Galvez, Daphne (October 29, 2021). "Duterte OKs postponement of first BARMM elections to 2025". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Recuenco, Aaron (March 4, 2022). "Duterte retains composition of Bangsamoro Transition Authority". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  15. ^ Arguillas, Carolyn O. (August 12, 2022). "Marcos to Bangsamoro Transition Authority: no more extension; election in 2025". MindaNews. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "SC: Sulu Province not part of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region". ABS-CBN News. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Sulu's exclusion from BARMM leaves 7 parliamentary seats in limbo". Rappler. September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "Bangsamoro parliament asks legislators to extend transition period to 2028". Rappler. October 24, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  19. ^ "Escudero wants BARMM elections deferred to 2026". Rappler. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  20. ^ "House bill mirrors Escudero's Senate push to postpone BARMM elections". Rappler. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  21. ^ "Parliamentary & Electoral System". Access Bangsamoro. Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c "Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023" (PDF). Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  23. ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (February 29, 2024). "Bill creating 32 single-member parliamentary districts in the BARMM passed". MindaNews. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Panti, Llanesca (June 20, 2019). "BARMM's new parliamentary districts won't affect representation in House, says BTA member". GMA News. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  25. ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (September 18, 2024). "Sulu's exclusion from BARMM leaves 7 parliamentary seats in limbo". Rappler. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  26. ^ Sarmiento, Bong (May 1, 2024). "Comelec asks BARMM political parties to get accreditation as Bangsamoro Electoral Code's IRR finally out". MindaNews. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c Medenilla, Samuel (May 2, 2024). "Comelec sets timeline for 2025 Bangsamoro polls". BusinessMirror. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Saliring, Alwen (May 28, 2024). "Residents urged to run for sectoral posts in first BARMM polls". GMA Regional TV. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  29. ^ Locus, Sundy (June 7, 2024). "Comelec extends accreditation period for political parties, sectoral groups for BARMM polls". GMA News. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  30. ^ "Comelec moves COC filing for BARMM elections to November 4 to 9". Rappler. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  31. ^ Solaiman, Taher G. (May 13, 2021). "11 Maguindanao mayors join MILF political party". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  32. ^ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (April 25, 2024). "BARMM political parties form alliance to ensure peaceful 2025 polls". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  33. ^ "Bangsamoro leaders ask SC to nullify some provisions of region's election code". The Philippine Star. June 18, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  34. ^ Cabalza, Dexter (September 16, 2024). "Comelec changes schedule for BARMM parties". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  35. ^ Fernandez, Edwin (March 20, 2024). "BARMM parties vow peaceful regional polls". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  36. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (May 18, 2024). "Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan to challenge Murad in BARMM". Rappler. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  37. ^ Buan, Lian (September 11, 2024). "Sulu's exclusion from BARMM removes MILF's election rival". Rappler. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  38. ^ Cabato, Luisa (July 2, 2024). "BARMM polls: 16 political, 1,500 sectoral orgs seek accreditation". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  39. ^ Arguilas, Carolyn (August 26, 2024). "BARMM 2025 Parliamentary Elections: voters to cast 2 ballots". MindaNews. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  40. ^ Locus, Sundy (October 2, 2024). "Comelec accredits 3 parties in BARMM elections". GMA News. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  41. ^ Bacongo, Keith (April 29, 2024). "Cracks, alliances surface ahead of BARMM elections in 2025". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  42. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (April 29, 2024). "Coalition party in 2025 Bangsamoro polls flexes political muscles in Marawi". MindaNews. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  43. ^ Buan, Lian (September 11, 2024). "Sulu's exclusion from BARMM removes MILF's election rival". Rappler. Retrieved September 12, 2024. But because of the recent Supreme Court ruling, Tan is assuming he is now disqualified. The Supreme Court did say that its ruling was immediately executory.
  44. ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (June 25, 2024). "Misuari group mobilizes, organizes own party ahead of BARMM elections". Rappler. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  45. ^ "BAA 35: Bangsamoro Electoral Code - Sec. 31. Manner of Election of Traditional Leaders" (PDF). p. 19. Retrieved September 12, 2024. For this purpose, the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) shall hold a regional convention of Sultans representing the Sultanates of: a) Sulu b) Maguindanao, Kabuntalan, and Buayan, c) Ranao, and d) Iranun...
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