Philippines’ Muslim-majority Bangsamoro region votes for first parliament
Summary
Nearly 2.4 million people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines are voting in their first parliamentary election since the region was created in 2019. The vote decides members of the region’s parliament, marking a major move toward self-governance after years of conflict.Key Facts
- The BARMM was established in 2019 as part of a peace agreement to give the region more autonomy.
- The election is for 80 parliamentary seats: 40 from political parties, 32 from districts, and 8 sectoral representatives.
- The region’s chief minister will be chosen by the new parliament at its first meeting.
- Officials aimed for at least an 80% voter turnout after election delays.
- Violence occurred before voting started, including a shooting in Cotabato City that killed three people and injured 15.
- Cotabato City and the town of Maluso were placed under election commission control due to security problems and ballot issues.
- The vote ends the transition period led by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, an interim government from 2019.
- The peace deal led former Muslim rebels to disarm and drop their goal of a separate state after decades of conflict that killed around 150,000 people.
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