Former Fighters Cast Votes in First Bangsamoro Election

When Bapa Abulkhair cast his ballot in September 2026, he wasn't just choosing a leader. The former combatant from Maguindanao del Norte was completing a personal transformation from fighter to citizen in the Philippines' newest chapter of peace.

The Bangsamoro region made history by electing its own Parliament for the first time through democratic vote. For decades, this moment seemed impossible as armed conflict defined the region's relationship with the national government.

The path to this election started in 1968 with the Jabidah incident, a flashpoint that sparked generations of armed struggle. The Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front fought for autonomy for over 40 years, with thousands of lives lost along the way.

Everything changed on March 27, 2014, when the Philippine government and MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. President Benigno Aquino III called it a moment requiring "the same trust and long-term thinking" to see it through.

MILF Chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim celebrated what the agreement represented. "The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro finally brings with it the restoration of the identity, powers and resources of the Bangsamoro," he said at the signing.

The agreement needed teeth. In 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law, creating the legal framework for the autonomous region with its own parliamentary government.

Voters ratified the law in 2019 plebiscites, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao officially launched that March. The region replaced the old autonomous structure with one built on what Ebrahim called "Moral Governance."

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority served as the interim government, building ministries, writing laws, and creating systems from scratch. Originally meant to be temporary, the transition extended beyond the planned 2022 election as the region built its democratic foundations.

Why This Inspires

This election represents something rare: a successful transition from armed conflict to democratic participation. Former fighters who once saw violence as their only voice now participate in shaping their future through ballots.

The work ahead remains challenging. Young democratic institutions need time to mature, and the region must deliver on promises of self-governance.

But watching former combatants line up to vote shows how peace agreements can transform into living realities when both sides commit to long-term change.

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