PARLIAMENT member Mohagher M. Iqbal thanked voters following the historic first BARMM Parliamentary Elections held on Sept. 14, 2026, with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) securing 30 out of the 80 seats.
While accepting the results, Iqbal highlighted security incidents that marred the electoral process, demanding justice for fallen volunteers and urging all sectors to respect the region’s nascent democratic institutions.
In a statement released following the polls, Iqbal condemned the violence that accompanied the democratic exercise.
He confirmed the deaths of three UBJP volunteers and expressed grave concern over approximately 20 others who sustained injuries during the campaign and election period.
“We cannot allow the violence that accompanied this historic exercise to simply pass without accountability,” Iqbal stated. He called upon the national government and relevant law enforcement and justice institutions to conduct a “thorough and impartial investigation” to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, emphasizing that elections must never be an excuse for bloodshed or intimidation.
Iqbal also commended the tireless efforts of security forces and election officials who worked to safeguard the polls, noting that despite localized violence, the broader Bangsamoro populace was able to exercise their right to vote.
As the region transitions toward forming the first regularly elected Bangsamoro Government under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), Iqbal made a direct appeal to respect the independence of the legislature.
He stressed that the newly elected members of Parliament must be allowed to freely execute their constitutional duties—including choosing the Chief Minister, the Speaker, and other parliamentary officers—without undue interference from outside forces.
With the electoral phase concluded, Iqbal urged all winning parliament members, regardless of political affiliation, to set aside divisions to safeguard the hard-won gains of the peace process.
“The elections may be over, but our greater responsibility has only begun,” Iqbal said, calling for a unified commitment to build a “peaceful, democratic, inclusive, and progressive Bangsamoro.”
