Twenty-Eight Sectoral Groups File for Participation in 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received registration applications from twenty-eight groups representing various sectors seeking to participate as Parliamentary Sectoral Organizations (PSOs) in the upcoming September 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE). This significant development marks a crucial step in the electoral process for the autonomous region.
Traditional Leader Sector Dominates Applicant List
According to the official list released by the Bangsamoro Electoral Office (BEO), the Traditional Leader Sector has submitted the highest number of applications with eleven organizations seeking registration. These include:
- Royal Sultanate of Langkong
- Iranun Sultanate League of the Philippines
- UBJP Traditional Leader Sector Wing
- Datu sa Kabuntalan sa Maguindanaw Royal Descendants Association
- Royal Sultanate of Eastern Unayan
- Royal House of the Sultanate of Pagayawan
- Royal House of the Sultanate of Marawi
- BGC Traditional Leader Sector
- Royal Sultanate of Malungon
- Dungon Traditional Leaders Organization
- BFP Traditional Leaders
Other Sectoral Applications Filed
The Women Sector has seen six organizations apply for registration, including the UBJP Women Sectoral Wing, BGC Women Sector, BAPA Sectoral Wing for Women, League OG Bangsamoro Islamic Advocate Association, BFP Women Sector, and Tawi-Tawi Provincial Women’s Council.
Three Youth Sector organizations have submitted applications: UBJP Youth Sectoral Wing, BGC Youth Sector, and BFP Youth. Additionally, five Settler Community Sector organizations have applied, comprising Christian Settler for Peace, Settlers Organization for Peace and Development, UBJP Settler Communities Sectoral Wing, BGC Settler Communities Sector, and BFP Settler Communities.
The Ulama Sector has filed three applications from UBJP Ulama Sectoral Wing, BGC Ulama Sector, and BFP Ulama Sector.
Parliamentary Seat Allocation and Selection Process
The Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections will allocate six PSO seats through this process, with specific distribution as follows:
- Two seats for Settler Communities
- One seat for Women Sector
- One seat for Youth Sector
- One seat for Traditional Leaders
- One seat for Ulama Sector
Separately, an Inter-Tribal Convention will be responsible for selecting two additional seats representing Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, ensuring comprehensive representation across the region's diverse communities.
Regional Parliamentary Political Parties Also Apply
In addition to the sectoral organizations, the Comelec has received applications from sixteen organizations seeking accreditation as Regional Parliamentary Political Parties (RPPPs) by the April 6 deadline. The applicant list includes:
- Bangsamoro Party
- United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP)
- Alliance of Bangsamoro Tri-Peoples Party
- Bangsamoro People’s Democratic Party
- Best Party
- Progresibong Bangsamoro Party
- Bangsamoro People’s Party
- Mahardika
- Bangsamoro Federalist Party
- Barmm Grand Coalition
- Al Ittihad - Ungaya sa Kawagib Nu Bangsamoro
- Moro Ako Party
- People’s Consultative Mushawara Party
- Partido Bangon Bangsamoro
- Indigenous Settlers Sama and Minorities Alliance Party
- Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo
The BPE will elect forty RPPP representatives through a proportional representation system, complementing the sectoral representation to form the complete parliamentary body.
Comelec Timeline for Resolution
Comelec Chairman George Garcia has announced that the Commission en banc will deliberate on and resolve both the RPPP and PSO registration petitions throughout the month of April. "We can resolve them until before the end of April," Garcia stated, indicating a clear timeline for finalizing the list of qualified participants in these historic elections.
The substantial number of applications across multiple sectors demonstrates robust interest in the democratic processes of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, with the Traditional Leader Sector showing particularly strong engagement through its eleven applicant organizations.
