Lawmakers have taken their seats in a newly elected local parliament in the southern Philippines, marking a major milestone in efforts to end an armed separatist conflict that spanned eight decades and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The transition in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, represents a historic turning point as former guerrilla fighters trade weapons for ballots.
The region has a long history of seeking self-rule, resisting United States colonial rule after 1898 and later battling the Philippine national government following independence in 1946. While the Philippines is nearly 79 percent Roman Catholic, Muslims form the majority in the BARMM. Under a peace pact signed in 2014, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed that the territory would remain part of the country in exchange for local autonomy. MILF chairperson Murad Ebrahim emphasized that the long-running struggle, once waged through warfare, will now be pursued through democratic institutions.
However, the path to enduring stability remains precarious. The recent parliamentary vote was shadowed by violence, including two explosions in Cotabato City and fatal shootings linked to the election. Because no single party secured an outright majority, leaders must now build governing coalitions. Georgi Engelbrecht, an analyst with the International Crisis Group think tank, warned that if the administration fails to govern effectively, new armed factions could eventually emerge.
Another major challenge is the complete reintegration of former insurgents into society. Although roughly 26,000 MILF combatants have already laid down their weapons, about 14,000 remain active in militia camps. Ebrahim noted that further decommissioning will proceed once the central government in Manila delivers the necessary economic and social support to help former fighters build peaceful livelihoods.