BARMM's First Parliamentary Elections: A Barometer for Peace Process Progress

The country passed through a historic moment only a few days ago — but how many Filipinos were even aware of it? The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held its first parliamentary elections. The contest for 80 seats in the regional parliament put the future of peace and development at stake. This was a pivotal stage on the road prepared by the peace process. What happened in these elections? What do the results tell us? And what happens now? In a discussion for In the Public Square, Rappler columnist John Nery was joined by Georgi Engelbrecht, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, and Rappler Cebu reporter John Sitchon, who covered the BARMM elections with reporter Iya Gozum. The BARMM was established as a result of the peace process that began in 2014, based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed in 2019. The first parliamentary elections were initially scheduled for 2022 but were postponed due to the extension of the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which oversees the peace process. These elections are a crucial step in establishing the future governance structure of the BARMM and bringing stability and development to the region after years of conflict. The election results will reflect the will of the people and serve as a barometer for the sustainability of the peace process.