IN NUMBERS: First BARMM Parliamentary Elections

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is poised to elect its parliament for the first time. This marks the Bangsamoro people’s third attempt at regional governance, with the landmark vote originally scheduled for 2022 but postponed multiple times, extending the initial three-year transition period to approximately seven years. Over 600 candidates are vying for seats in the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament, with more than 2.3 million registered voters set to decide the outcome of these historic polls. The elections are unfolding amidst heightened tensions within the upper ranks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose members currently hold a majority in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the region's interim government. Lanao del Sur has the largest voting population with 727,546 registered voters, constituting 30.4% of the total. It is followed by Maguindanao del Sur (469,114 voters) and Maguindanao del Norte (419,365 voters). These votes will determine who fills the 80 seats in the region’s first elected parliament. A total of 679 candidates filed for the elections. Of these, 454 are running as party representatives, 107 as district representatives, and 78 as sectoral representatives. The 80-seat parliament comprises 40 party representatives elected through proportional representation, 32 district representatives, and 8 sectoral representatives for specific groups like women, youth, and traditional leaders. Two representatives for non-Moro indigenous peoples were elected earlier on August 25, following a unique selection process adhering to their customary laws. Regarding gender, an estimated 69% of candidates are male, and 31% are female, with the latter barely surpassing the 30% threshold for party nominees. The proportion of women candidates is lower in district and sectoral races. Generationally, Generation X candidates (aged 46-61) form the largest group with 261, followed by millennials (174) and baby boomers (170). The oldest candidate is 82, and the youngest is 18. Maguindanao del Norte accounts for the largest share of candidates, with 229 or about 34% of the total. This province has strong ties to the MILF and its political arm, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), a major force in BARMM politics. The UBJP and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) together account for approximately 23% of all candidacies filed. The candidate pool also shows the influence of clan and dynastic politics, with surnames like Usman and Abubakar appearing repeatedly. This election represents a crucial step in establishing BARMM's future governance, though it faces challenges related to candidate composition, the influence of major parties, and dynastic politics.