BARMM's First Elected Parliament Faces Challenges Amidst Mixed Representation

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has inaugurated its first-ever elected parliament on October 30, marking a significant step in the region's self-governance. However, the composition of this new legislative body presents several challenges that could impact its ability to govern effectively over the next five years. The 80-member parliament lacks a single majority party, meaning that two or more parties must form a coalition to elect a Chief Minister, the head of the BARMM government's executive branch. Experts emphasize that such a coalition must go beyond securing key positions and establish a clear governance agenda to ensure stability against disagreements and defections. Analysis of the parliament's composition reveals that nearly half of the elected Members of Parliament (MPs), 39 in total, have prior experience in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, the region's interim legislative body. Eleven of these MPs have served in the BTA for all three terms since BARMM's creation in 2019, many of whom are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as mandated by law requiring 41 BTA members from the former rebel group. Women's representation falls short of legal aspirations. While electoral laws stipulate that 30% of regional parliamentary political party nominees must be women, only 13 women (16.25%) secured seats in the elected parliament. Election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) had previously pointed out that female candidates were often ranked lower on nominee lists, and no such gender threshold was enforced for district and sectoral seats. Despite anti-political dynasty provisions in BARMM's electoral and local governance codes, several MPs share the same surnames. The full implementation of these provisions begins in 2028, and the 2026 election only banned familial relationships within the same regional political party. Notable instances include four Adiongs, with two being direct relatives of the Lanao del Sur Governor. Other related MPs include a father-son pair and an uncle-nephew duo. Relatives of provincial governors also hold seats. In terms of demographics, Generation X (aged 46-61) forms the largest bloc at 35%, followed by Baby Boomers (aged 61 and above) at 31.25%. The youngest MPs are 26 years old, while the oldest is 79. The diverse backgrounds of the MPs are expected to influence legislation. The key question remains whether the new leadership can pave the way for a more inclusive government in future elections.