BARMM leaders form coalition ahead of 2025 polls

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Political leaders in the Muslim autonomous region have banded together to form a formidable coalition ahead of next year's midterm polls.

Influential political parties Bangsamoro People's Party (BPP), Al Ittihad-UKB Party and Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo o SIAP Party organized the powerful alliance during a recent meeting in Makati City.

The coalition was joined by Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, former Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu and now Director-General of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and a stalwart ng Al Ittihad-UKB Party, and Mariam Mangudadatu of Maguindanao del Sur.

Tan said the coalition was organized to ensure peaceful elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the first in the southern region since it was formed after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in a two-part plebiscite in Western Mindanao on January 21 and February 6, 2019.  

"We are supporting BARMM and want peace, progress and development to flourish that will be beneficial to all our constituents. Bilang mga pinuno sa BARMM, mayroon kaming responsibilidad na pangalagaan ang sanctity ng halalan at itaguyod ang integridad ng boto ng mamamayan. Ito ay bilang pagkilala sa sakripisyo ng mga lumaban para sa kapayapaan at demokrasya sa rehiyon para magkaroon ng maganda at maunlad na kinabukasan ang mga mamamayan ng BARMM," he said.

Mangudadatu said: "Isinusulong ng alyansa ang mga ganansiya ng peace process sa BARMM kasama na ang adhikain ng mapayapang halalan at isang pamahalaan na may equal representation. Kinikilala ng kanyang partido ang importansya ng pagkakaisa para sa kapayapaan sa rehiyon na mayroong cultural at ethnic diversity."

"Ang alyansa ay patunay ng kanilang determinasyon na magkaroon ng malawakang pagkakaunawaan sa lahat ng sektor ng lipunan, at nakahanda ang mga partido sa alyansa na isantabi ang pulitika para sa ikabubuti ng Bangsamoro region," he said.

Adiong, of the SIAP Party, said "ang alyansa ay itinayo na may adhikain at prinsipyo ng inclusive governance at development, peace at unity, at pagpapahalaga sa BARMM peace process."

He also urged other political parties in the region to join them. "Nanawagan ako sa ibang partidong pulitikal sa BARMM na sumama na sa kanilang alyansa para mas malaki ang tsansa na maging mapayapa ang halalan sa susunod na taon, at para masiguro na ang boses ng mamamayan ang mamamayani sa eleksyon," he said. "Ang isang mapayapang halalan ang patunay ng isang demokratikong lipunan, na may pagpapahalaga sa katarungan, pagkakapantay-pantay at respeto sa karapatang pantao."

Hataman, one of the founders of BPP, said a peaceful election is the foundation of democracy. "Ang malayang halalan ay manifestation ng kanilang collective struggle para sa self-determination at self-governance, kung saan nagpapamalas ng karapatan ng bawat mamamayan sa BARMM na pumili ng kanilang mga pinuno na walang takot at pangamba," he said. "Dapat siguruhin ang pagiging “sacred” ng karapatan ng mga mamamayan na bumoto at dapat itong irespeto ng lahat ng partido.

The BARMM is headed by Ahod Ebrahim, chieftain of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace deal with Manila on March 27, 2014 ending more than 45 years of conflict in the southern Philippines. And eventually formed the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) in 2014 to run in future elections. The UBJP was registered with the Commission on Elections in May 2015. The MILF is based on the principles of self-determination and self-governance for the Moro people who have participated in previous democratic elections.  (Al Jacinto)