BARMM parliamentary polls will be inclusive – Pendatun

MANILA, Philippines — The first ever parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao next year will be inclusive, BARMM spokesman Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said on Tuesday.

The historical parliamentary polls in the region will be conducted on May 12, 2025, simultaneous with the national and local election.

“In fact, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, mayroon pa tayong tinatawag na mga reserved seats para sa ating mga members of the parliament,” Pendatun said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Tuesday.

(In fact, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, we even have what we call reserved seats for our members of parliament.)

“Ito pong mga reserved seats, ito po iyong para sa mga sektor ng lipunan na based on history ay nahihirapan pong makakuha ng representation in the Bangsamoro parliament or in the Bangsamoro legislative space ‘no—ito po iyong mga non-Moro indigenous peoples, mayroon po tayong reserved seats for Christian settlers, sa atin pong youth, Ulama, traditional leaders at iba pa,” he explained.

(These reserved seats are for sectors of society that, based on history, have struggled to gain representation in the Bangsamoro parliament or in the Bangsamoro legislative space—these include non-Moro indigenous peoples. We have reserved seats for Christian settlers, for our youth, Ulama, traditional leaders, and others.)

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Pendatun noted that the candidates’ platforms will be the basis whether they are fit to become leaders or not.

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“Rest assured po that in the BARMM, ang kailangan ho natin pong magiging batayan lang talaga is iyon pong plataporma noong atin pong mga kandidato at iyon pong mga party na lalahok,” he said.

(Rest assured that in the BARMM, what we really need to base things on are the platforms of our candidates and the parties that will participate.)

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the parliamentary election is set for November 2 to 9.

Last September 26, the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu province is not a part of BARMM.

This, however, will have an effect on the elections, according to Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia.