OPAPRU calls for organized, peaceful BARMM polls

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Sunday called for an organized and peaceful electoral process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ahead of its first parliamentary polls.

In a statement, Presidential Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento thanked the Commission on Elections and security forces for their efforts to ensure that the electoral process is conducted properly and peacefully.

“We likewise acknowledge the maturity and sense of responsibility being demonstrated by the political parties and their leaders as we approach this historic exercise,” Sarmiento said.

“We hope that everyone will sustain these efforts in the days leading up to the elections. With the active cooperation of our communities, political leaders, election officials, and security forces, we can help ensure that the people of the Bangsamoro are able to freely choose their leaders in a credible, honest, transparent, and peaceful election,” he added.

Sarmiento described the first BARMM parliamentary elections as a “significant milestone” in the political process under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

“The success of these elections will not only be a milestone for the Bangsamoro peace process. It will be a victory for peace, democracy, and the Filipino people,” he said.

EXPLAINER: OPAPRU and the 2026 BARMM elections

Earlier this week, the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) selected two representatives for the Bangsamoro Parliament. They are set to be proclaimed along with the 78 winning candidates.

The selected NMIP representatives are Jo Genna Jover from the Teduray indigeneous peoples and Leticio Datuwata from the Lambangian indigenous groups.

Speaking to the media after the final command conference in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on Wednesday, Garcia said he is hoping for a 65-70% voter turnout in the BARMM elections.

"Ang sinasabi ko nga kahit 65-70% sana ma-achieve natin. Huwag naman baba sa 50% [dahil] parang wala namang ka effort effort ang Comelec at lahat ng stakeholders, kasama ang mga Bangsamoro government," Garcia said.

(I hope we can achieve a 65-70% voter turnout. I hope it's not 50% because it may look like Comelec and other stakeholders, including the Bangsamoro government, made an effort.)

There are 2.393 million registered voters in BARMM.

The first parliamentary Bangsamoro polls are scheduled on September 14.
—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News