16 regional parties prepare for BARMM pollsThousands appeared on the streets in Cotabato City on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to show support for the Bangsamoro Federalist Party while its officials filed then at the Bangsamoro regional office of the Commission on Elections a petition for permission to participate in autonomous region's September parliamentary polls. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Sixteen regional parties are to pit candidates for the first-ever September 14 regional parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officials of the Commission on Elections in BARMM announced on Wednesday, April 8. No fewer than 200 local executives, barangay and traditional Moro and Christian community leaders from different BARMM provinces also appeared at the Bangsamoro regional government compound to show that they are politically-aligned with the Bangsamoro Federalist Party. The Bangsamoro Party is popular for its policy of not allowing members to attack or criticize abusively, via the mainstream media, or through Facebook, the political platforms of other regional parties in the autonomous region. The MNLF group, led by BARMM parliament member Abdulkarim Misuari, also has its Mahardika Party that now has favored bets for the regional parliament.

Source: Philippine Star April 08, 2026 11:44 UTC