BARMM Poll: BFP leads partial results

Members of the Regional Board of Canvassers (RBOC) review and consolidate election returns from across Bangsamoro region, Cotabato City, and the Special Geographic Area as canvassing continues for the 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections on September 15, 2026. (Courtesy: Bangsamoro Government)

The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) is leading the partial and unofficial count in the first parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), based on the latest Commission on Elections (Comelec) data available Tuesday.

As of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Comelec had received 5,129 of the expected 5,212 election results, or 98.4 percent. The BFP had 660,464 votes, followed by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) with 609,078 votes and the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) with 386,033.

The Raayat Democratic Party was fourth with 67,855 votes, while the Pro Bangsamoro Party had 36,504. Other parties included the Bangsamoro Party with 35,533 votes, BEST Party with 26,756, Moro Ako with 16,704, Mahardika with 14,748 and ABOT with 11,296.

The remaining parties were the Mushawara Party with 8,006 votes, ISAMA with 3,306 and Partido Bangon Bangsamoro with 2,588.

 Under the electoral system, parties must obtain at least 2.5 percent of valid votes to qualify for a share of the 40 regional parliamentary party seats, which will be allocated proportionally.

UBJP candidates were also leading several sectoral races in the latest partial count, including the contests for women, youth, ulama and traditional leaders. The results, however, remain unofficial, and the final allocation of seats will depend on the completed canvass and official proclamation.

The BARMM elections marked the region’s first regular parliamentary vote and a major step in its transition from interim rule to an elected regional government.

Comelec is expected to proclaim the regional party and sectoral winners on Tuesday or Wednesday, while voting was continuing in parts of Maluso, Basilan, after pre-shaded ballots were discovered in affected precincts. — Vito Barcelo