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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Bangsamoro Federalist Party launches bid for seats in BARMM parliament

Bangsamoro Federalist Party launches bid for seats in BARMM parliament

Published Aug 10, 2026 02:17 pm
DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Federalist Party has formally launched over the weekend its campaign for the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections next month.
According to the BFP, at least 54, 000 supporters have gathered in different parts of the region for the simultaneous region-wide campaign kickoff in Basilan, Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and the Special Geographic Area.
The group said that the Lanao del Sur had the most number of people who joined the activity with 17,000 followed by the event in Basilan and Cotabato City with 10, 000 people respectively.
Founded in March this year, the BFP is mostly composed of the current BARMM used to be affiliated with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party(UBJP), the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (MILF).
Recently, several notable local government officials have moved to BFP from UBJP, including Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao.
Matabalo resigned from UBJP in June 2026, and joined BFP as first vice president, along with half of the city council and other officials; Maguindanao del Sur Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu and other local officials.
BFP is currently led by BARMM Member of the Parliament Tomanda Antok, who used to lead the planning committee of the UBJP.
Antok said that BFP is now the most dominant party in the region as about 90% of the local government officials and even down to barangay councils in BARMM have already joined the group.
“Of the 11 mayors in the province of Tawi-Tawi, 10 of them took oath before the Bangsamoro Federalist Party. Also in Basilan, 10 of 11 mayors swore before the Bangsamoro Federalist Party,” Andtok told the crowd in Cotabato City.
While 22 of 24 mayors in Maguindanao del Sur and 12 of 13 mayors in Maguindanao del Norte have already joined the BFP, he added.
However, Antok did not specify how many of 39 mayors and barangay officials have already joined the BFP.
While lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, who is also a BARMM Member of the Parliament, serves as the Cotabato City Chapter President and the group’s spokesperson.
The group is advocating for transparency, good governance , inclusive development and peacebuilding in the region.
Both BFP and UBJP are among the most dominant parties that will participate in the first parliamentary elections on September 14.
Ten other regional parliamentary political parties have also been accredited for the polls.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairperson George Edwin Garcia announced last week that the agency is “95% ready” for the region’s first-ever polls.
The 45-day campaign period commenced on July 30 with 631 candidates and nominees vying for 80 seats.
In the upcoming historic election, BARMM voters will elect 80 Members of Parliament (MPs) , one regional parliamentary political party (RPPP), one district representative, and six sectoral representatives – two for settler communities, one each for women, youth, Ulama and traditional leaders.
According to the Comelec, the two other sectoral seats reserved for Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) – will be chosen through tribal assemblies ahead of the September 14 polls. (Keith Bacongco)

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