FILE PHOTO: The Office of the Chief Minister Building in Cotabato City, the seat of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Civil society organizations in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are holding on to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise of fair and peaceful 2025 elections.
The groups believe that a successful 2025 BARMM polls would be the President’s “lasting legacy” in Mindanao.
“The significance of these elections extends beyond BARMM. A successful, peaceful election in BARMM will send a powerful message throughout Mindanao and the Philippines at large. It will highlight the government’s resolve to support democratic principles and peace-building efforts, setting a precedent for future elections in other regions,” said Khuzaimah Maranda, of Thuma Ko Kapagingud Service Organization.
Previously, Marcos called on the BARMM local leaders and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure a peaceful election in the region. The 2025 Parliamentary Elections will be the first in BARMM.
“That is all in the interest of peace. We do this because we want peace to continue in this area, in the Southern Philippines. We do not want to see the kind of fighting that we saw many decades ago,” Marcos said during his visit to Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu, last Friday, July 5.
READ: Ensure a peaceful 2025 BARMM elections, Marcos tells AFP
Arlene Sevilla, a convenor for the Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency, emphasized the importance of the 2025 BARMM elections in recognizing the right to suffrage of the region and the whole island of Mindanao.
“President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has the unique opportunity to leave an enduring legacy by ensuring that these elections are conducted in a fair, honest, and peaceful manner,” she said.
Jo Jenna Jover, of the Indigenous Women Resources Center Inc., recognized that “this historic event can significantly strengthen the democratic foundations of the region.”
READ: Conflict trauma’s lasting scars: Bangsamoro folk cited in study
“This is especially crucial in a region that has endured years of conflict and unrest. A secure and orderly election can demonstrate the progress made towards lasting peace and stability in BARMM,” she added.
“The elections are an opportunity for the people to express their hopes and aspirations for the future, selecting leaders who will best represent their interests and work towards their collective well-being,” Youth leader Aljiber Ismael from Sulu noted.
The BARMM 2025 elections that will be held alongside the national and local midterm elections is set to fill 80 seats in the Parliament, composed of 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives.