Comelec clears MILF party, but questions linger ahead of BARMM polls

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (May 7) — The Commission on Elections has accredited the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), allowing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s political arm to join the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The ruling ends a brief but high-stakes dispute, with Comelec dismissing petitions that questioned the party’s eligibility over alleged armed presence in political activities and concerns on funding sources. The poll body cited insufficient basis, clearing UBJP just as the deadline for filing certificates of candidacy (COCs) closed.

Legal win, accountability test

The decision settles UBJP’s status—but leaves broader accountability issues unresolved.

By resolving the case on procedural grounds, Comelec sidestepped a fuller public reckoning on allegations tied to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). That shifts the burden to regulators to ensure strict enforcement of campaign rules, financial transparency, and the separation of armed influence from electoral politics.

UBJP candidates have since filed their COCs, moving the contest from legal challenge to campaign ground.

Power rifts, high stakes

The accreditation comes amid internal cracks within the Bangsamoro’s dominant bloc. Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has broken with UBJP leadership, fueling the rise of a rival party, while Ahod Ebrahim juggles overlapping roles within both the movement and the party.

With alliances shifting, the region’s first parliamentary elections are shaping up as both a political contest and a test of governance.

Beyond participation

UBJP’s approval ensures inclusion. The challenge now is credibility.

As BARMM heads to its first parliamentary vote, the measure of success will not just be who runs—but whether rules are enforced, power is checked, and voters are given a fair, transparent choice.