Camille Naredo

Residents in Sultan Kudarat look for their names from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Residents in Sultan Kudarat look for their names from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177796791541920190121-cotabato-plebiscite-JC-7316.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Residents in Sultan Kudarat look for their names from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School, January 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents in Sultan Kudarat look for their names from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) list of voters for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite at the Simuay Junction Crossing Elementary School, January 21, 2019. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – A third party monitoring the Bangsamoro peace process on Tuesday said the region&#x27;s parliamentary elections should finally push through this year, as &quot;problems and doubts&quot; could arise if the polls are still not conducted this September. </p><p>The Third Party Monitoring Team earlier in the day released its 9th Public Report assessing the implementation of the landmark Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which was signed in March 2014. </p><p>Twelve years after being signed, however, observers noted that some aspects still fell behind, most especially the &quot;normalization track.&quot; </p><p>Observers also emphasized that <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/5/after-4-postponements-comelec-open-to-holding-first-barmm-parliamentary-elections-in-september-1708">after four postponements</a>, the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election would yield to a democratically-elected Bangsamoro Parliament, which they said would be &quot;a formidable achievement of the peace process.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/28/united-bangsamoro-justice-party-submits-docs-to-comelec-for-bangsamoro-polls-1710">READ: United Bangsamoro Justice Party submits docs to Comelec for Bangsamoro polls</a></div><p>&quot;While the formal decommissioning procedure has [progressed] through three out of four phases, the provision of socioeconomic support to decommissioned combatants and the transformation of MILF camps has not advanced at the same pace,&quot; the observers said in a release, citing the report. </p><p>&quot;Other elements of normalization, including recruitment into the police, redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, disbanding of private armed groups, and transitional justice and reconciliation are still at initial or planning stages,&quot; it added. </p><p>The Third Party Monitoring Team said the leadership change in March 2025 – following Ahod &quot;Al-Haj Murad&quot; Ebrahim&#x27;s resignation as BARMM Interim Chief Minister  – had affected the balance of power in Bangsamoro. </p><p>&quot;Meaningful self-governance has to be based on decisions grounded in the BARMM,&quot; the observers said. </p><p>&quot;In preparing for the September 2026 elections, it is important that all stakeholders lend their weight to upholding democratic principles and the sanctity of the electoral process,&quot; they added. </p><p>Heino Marius, chairman of the Third Party Monitoring Team, said plenty still needs to be done. Parties in the region, he said, should discuss matters on what could be achieved towards the end of the Marcos administration and beyond. </p><p>He is also hoping that the new Peace Implementing Panel chairman on the side of the Philippine government will be appointed soon.  </p><p>In his opening statement, Marius said the partial implementation of the normalization track requires continuous monitoring from the peace implementing panels. </p><p>&quot;As mentioned earlier, the implementation of the normalization track has been much in store. The political track has left the normalization track,&quot; Marius said. </p><p>&quot;On the implementation of the normalization track… we are still in the implementation stage. (JC) Lots of discussion on roadmaps, but do note that this implementation has been started 12 years after the signing of the CAB,&quot; he added. </p><p>He noted that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), represented by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, is one of the parties competing in the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections. </p><p>&quot;One could possibly say they would be able to facilitate the future implementation of the peace process if they remain to have an important position in the future political setup of the BARMM,&quot; said Marius. </p><p>&quot;If they can form part of the coalition this way they would be able to be involved in the political affairs of BARMM, we will see it as positive. But beyond that, all political parties in the BARMM should be interested [in bringing] the peace process to a successful conclusion,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HUGE LEGACY&#x27; FOR PH </strong></div><p>Third Party Monitoring Team member Karen Tañada, for her part, told reporters in a chance interview that the Bangsamoro elections should happen this year or else there would be &quot;problems and doubts.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kung may postponement, mahirap na naman yun, kailangan na naman ng [legislative approval]... Ilang postponement na yung nangyari. Para sa mga tao, maraming doubts diba? Lalo na ngayon, maraming kuro-kuro bakit mapo-postpone na naman,&quot; said Tañada. </p><p>&quot;Mahalaga na magkaroon na ng eleksyon para makapili na talaga. There is nothing a direct election by public, by the citizens, kung sino ang gusto nila. For the past years appointment yan eh, somehow hindi yun maganda,&quot; she added. </p><p>Among the Third Party Monitoring Team&#x27;s recommendations is for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to continuously engage with the MILF leadership and provide overall policy direction on the implementation of the peace process. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/25/marcos-jr-signs-law-resetting-barmm-elections-to-september-2026-2003">READ: Marcos Jr. signs law resetting BARMM elections to September 2026</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/03/27/23/lack-of-opportunity-hounds-moros-almost-a-decade-since-peace-pact">READ: &#x27;Lack of opportunity&#x27; still hounds Moros almost a decade since peace pact</a></div><p>Tañada said the CAB alone warrants the attention of the President despite several issues hounding the Philippines. </p><p>&quot;Mahalagang legacy na sana na nagkaroon ng agreement. Sana matupad na. Kaya lang maging aware tayo na sa mundo, maraming peace agreement na hindi natutupad. Sabi nila, after 7 years, mga 70 percent daw nagfe-fail yung implementation,&quot; Tañada told reporters. </p><p>&quot;Sana yung atin naman, sana hindi siya maging failure… at mapatupad na. Sabi nila, &#x27;yung conflict nag-start sa panahon ni President Marcos, Sr. sana maganda rin na kung maayos naman within the term of President Marcos Jr., magandang legacy na rin matupad yun,&quot; she added.</p><p>According to observers, parties in the CAB should conclude an Exit Agreement before the term of President Marcos Jr. ends, noting that this was still possible. </p><p>For it to happen however, the parties in the peace pact must be engaged in &quot;focused dialogue and strategic review&quot; to define the roadmap in completing the normalization track. </p><p>This should include a timeline and funding commitments, they said, in the coming years. </p><p>&quot;The chance to complete the substantial implementation of the CAB is a golden opportunity for the Philippines, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hand to future generations a more peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro region, and country,&quot; the observers said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OPAPRU DETERMINED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PEACE STAKEHOLDERS </strong></div><p>In a release, Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento said they acknowledge the findings of the TPMT, but still noted the challenges. </p><p>Despite this though, Sarmiento added that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is committed to fully achieve the goals of CAB as directed by Marcos Jr. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/22/-parang-hindi-na-bago-ex-dilg-chief-is-marcos-new-peace-adviser-1029">READ: &#x27;Parang hindi na bago&#x27;: Ex-DILG chief is Marcos&#x27; new peace adviser</a></div><p>&quot;Our agency continues to strengthen and build on its partnership with the MILF leadership, following our highly productive meeting with MILF Implementing Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal,&quot; the statement read. </p><p>&quot;The OPAPRU is determined, more than ever, to working closely with its peace stakeholders to sustain the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process, strengthen trust and  cooperation among parties, and ensure that the aspirations enshrined in the CAB translate into lasting peace, inclusive development, and meaningful change for the Bangsamoro people,&quot; it added. </p><p>The CAB was signed on March 27, 2014 between the Philippine government under the leadership of then-President Benigno Aquino III and the MILF, concluding 17 years of negotiations between the 2 parties.</p><p>Former peace adviser Carlito Galvez said former MILF combatants are &quot;being provided socioeconomic interventions&quot; in exchange for giving up their arms under the &quot;normalization&quot; program, one of the key components of the peace process.</p>

<p>A third party monitoring the Bangsamoro peace process on Tuesday said the region's parliamentary elections should finally push through this year, as "problems and doubts" could arise if the polls are still not conducted this September.</p>

A third party monitoring the Bangsamoro peace process on Tuesday said the region's parliamentary elections should finally push through this year, as "problems and doubts" could arise if the polls are still not conducted this September.

Observers: Problems, doubts may arise if BARMM polls won't happen in 2026

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Observers: Problems, doubts may arise if BARMM polls won't happen in 2026

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 05, 2026 04:09 PM PHT

Read More:

Third Party Monitoring Team

Bangsamoro

Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections

Bangsamoro Peace Process

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