COTABATO CITY (September 24) — THE formation of the first elected Bangsamoro government is moving into the coalition-building stage, with the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) saying it is open to working with the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) and Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) to build a united regional government.
In a statement Tuesday, September 22, the BGC said it recognizes and respects the mandate expressed by Bangsamoro voters in the September 14 parliamentary elections and thanked voters who supported the coalition.
The BGC said it is willing to work with UBJP and BFP and build “a united front for the Bangsamoro.”
The coalition also called for the new Parliament to be convened, a Chief Minister to be elected and the first elected Bangsamoro government to be formed so it can begin addressing the needs of the region.
DIALOGUE BEFORE POWER-SHARING
The BGC proposed that leaders of the political parties represented in Parliament begin the process through dialogue.
It said discussions should go beyond negotiations over positions and allow parties to hear each other’s perspectives, identify common ground and determine where cooperation is possible.
The coalition said one priority is the formation of a cohesive and inclusive regional government, including the representation and participation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and other political parties.
It also identified faster implementation of peace-agreement commitments—including normalization and decommissioning under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)—as a priority.
The BGC further said accountability for violence and irregularities during the elections should form part of the discussions.
COALITION TALKS, PEACE COMMITMENTS
Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman, former Sultan Kudarat Gov. and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu, and Sulu Vice Gov. Abdusakur Tan will lead the BGC’s dialogues with leaders of other political parties.
The coalition framed the proposed talks as part of parliamentary democracy, where elections establish representation while dialogue, consensus-building and cooperation determine how government functions.
The immediate political task is therefore not simply to assemble a governing coalition but to translate the election mandate into a functioning regional government.
For the incoming Parliament, the proposed agenda puts several issues on the table from the outset: who will be included in the new government, how peace commitments will be carried forward, and how election-related violence and irregularities will be addressed.
The BGC said the transition also offers an opportunity to strengthen Bangsamoro autonomous institutions and demonstrate that political differences can be managed through democratic processes, mutual respect and a shared commitment to the welfare of the Bangsamoro people.
