The dynasties, elites, and parties competing for power in BARMM

Thirteen regional political parties and nearly 700 candidates from dynasties and those with ties to the MILF and MNLF are vying for power in the Bangsomoro Parliament The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will hold its first regional parliamentary elections on September 14, with over 2 million voters participating. The elections are significant as they will allow the Bangsamoro people to choose leaders who can address the region's historical challenges. There are 13 political parties and nearly 700 candidates contesting for seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament, with heightened tensions expected due to clan and dynastic politics. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. Decades of conflict and peacebuilding will culminate on Monday, September 14 — the day when more than two million Filipinos of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will cast their votes in the regional parliamentary elections. The momentous elections matter not just because it is the first of its kind but because the Bangsamoro people will decide the set of leaders that will hopefully overcome the region’s challenges of self-governance and its history of neglect and underdevelopment. The people’s memory of the Moro struggle, infused with the trauma of rido (clan feuds), poverty, and the threat of insurgency, will be tested as the list of candidates contains aspirants belonging to the region’s powerful political dynasties and former combatants, whose loyalties lie with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF. We’ve compiled the profiles of the candidates running in the region’s 32 districts and the 13 regional political parties all eyeing a seat in the Bangsamoro Parliament. More than just looking at family connections, the articles below also reviewed the historical rivalries and recent connections formed prior to election day. Here are the dynasties, elites, and parties vying for power in BARMM. What parties are running in the BARMM elections? There are 13 regional political parties and nearly 700 candidates seeking seats in the Bangsamoro Parliament. While this political participation in the region may broaden and offer BARMM voters a wider range of choices, the Asian Network for Free Elections and other watchdog groups say that the heightened tensions between the parties — made worse by clan and dynastic politics — could raise concerns over peace and security during the election period. Watch this video by Shay Du for a rundown of the political parties participating in the historic polls. BARMM polls: Who are the bets for Lanao del Sur’s 9 seats? Over two dozen members of political dynasties, Islamic scholars, lawmakers, and youth leaders are competing for Lanao del Sur’s seats in the Bangsamoro region The candidates have until September 12 to campaign in their respective districts. The province has 1,164 barangays and 727,634 registered voters, according to Commission on Elections data as of May 8. Here are the electoral races in Lanao del Sur’s nine districts. BARMM polls: Maguindanao del Norte a key regional battleground BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua is running in the 3rd parliamentary district of Maguindanao del Norte, where the election results could determine whether he stays or not as the region’s leader. If Macacua wins in the September elections, he would be eligible and could be chosen by the BARMM Parliament as the first elected chief minister of the seven-year-old region. This makes the election outcome in the Maguindanao del Norte district crucial, as it could determine the direction of the region. Here are the electoral races happening in Maguindanao del Norte’s five parliamentary districts. BARMM polls: Scions of dynasties vie for Maguindanao del Sur seats Relatives of the Midtimbang, Ampatuan, Upam, and Mangudadatu clans are vying for power in Maguindanao del Sur’s five parliamentary districts. Maguindanao del Sur is currently led by Governor Ali Musa Midtimbang, whose family formed an alliance with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) during the 2025 local election. Ali’s nephew, Member of Parliament Tawakal Midtimbang, is running in the 1st District. The elder Midtimbang’s seat was previously held by Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu, the last governor of the once-undivided Maguindanao, whose relative is now vying for a seat in the Bangsamoro Parliament through Maguindanao del Sur’s 4th District. Here are the electoral races happening in Maguindanao del Sur. BARMM polls: Hatamans seek 2 of Basilan’s 4 parliament seats The Hatamans are seeking a larger foothold in Basilan’s delegation to the BARMM Parliament, with former Basilan governor and now Vice Governor Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman’s son, Jimael Salam Datumanong Salliman, and nephew, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member Abrar Hataman, seeking seats in the 4th and 3rd districts, respectively. If they win, the Hatamans would hold two of Basilan’s four parliamentary seats. Both are running under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), now led by Macacua. Here are the electoral races happening in the province of Basilan. BARMM polls: Over half of Tawi-Tawi bets have ties to political families In Tawi-Tawi’s four parliamentary districts, members of political clans, former local officials, civil society leaders, and professionals are campaigning for seats in the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament. More than half of them have ties to local political families. One of three Que brothers from Bongao is seeking the 1st District’s parliamentary seat. The Matba, Amilbangsa, Matolo, Jamalul, and Ahaja clans also have members in the races for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th districts. Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali’s sister-in-law, Rhosatina Sulayman Matolo-De Asis, is among those seeking a seat in the 3rd District. Here are the electoral races in Tawi-Tawi’s four districts. BARMM polls: Who are competing in Cotabato, the regional center? Cotabato City, the seat of the Bangsamoro regional government, is seeing a competitive race among seasoned public officials, educators, and other candidates, some of whom have ties to local political dynasties. Three parliamentary seats are up for grabs in the city, whose local government until recently was led by a mayor, Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao, who supported the UBJP, the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). However, internal rifts in the MILF and the resignation of Matabalao from the UBJP have brought much speculation as to how well the MILF’s party is going to fare in Cotabato City’s 37 barangays. Here are the electoral races in the three parliamentary districts of Cotabato City. BARMM polls: 7 bets battle for 2 special territory seats With the region’s election day fast approaching, candidates in the BARMM Special Geographic Area (SGA) are stepping up their campaigns for district parliamentary seats. The candidates include former BARMM interim chief minister Al Haj Murad’s son Mansor and BTA Member Butch Malang in the 1st District, and several independent candidates competing against UBJP and BFP bets in the 2nd District Here are the electoral races happening in the two parliamentary districts of the SGA. – Rappler.com