Bangsamoro Federalist Party Dominates BARMM Parliamentary Elections

MANILA, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) secured 16 seats in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament after winning the majority of votes in the first parliamentary elections in the region. The Comelec Regional Board of Canvassers announced on Tuesday evening, September 14, that four political parties garnered enough votes to qualify for parliamentary seats. The BFP prevailed and gained 678,328 votes, equivalent to 35.54% of the total valid votes in the final results. The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) followed and secured 15 parliamentary seats after gaining 613,663 votes, or 32.16% of the valid votes. Meanwhile, eight seats will go to the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) after garnering 391,266 votes, equivalent to 20.5% of the total valid votes, while one seat will go to the Raayat Democratic Party for winning 68,839 votes, or 3.61%. Political party representatives will hold 40 seats out of the total 80 seats in the BARMM Parliament. The remaining seats will be filled by 32 district representatives and eight sectoral representatives. Elected representatives are expected to assume office on October 30. The 2026 BARMM elections ended the seven-year interim government of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), allowing voters to democratically choose the region's first regular parliament as part of its pursuit of self-governance.