Photo: Office of the MNLF Chairman Muslimin G. Sema
COTABATO CITY (September 17) — The Bangsamoro Party (BaPa), the political party associated with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction led by Chairman Muslimin Sema, has accepted defeat in the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections and pledged to work with the region’s incoming leaders.
BaPa received 35,671 votes, or 1.9 percent of the regional vote.
“BaPa fairly and honorably concedes the results of the first parliamentary elections in BARMM,” Sema said in a statement Wednesday.
Sema, who also serves as labor minister in the interim Bangsamoro government, said the Sept. 14 elections marked an important step in the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination.
“This electoral exercise is the fruit of a long Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination, and it deserves to be honored with peace, order, and honesty. It is democracy at work,” he said.
The BaPa was launched in 2022 as the political vehicle of Sema’s MNLF faction and has since participated in the BARMM political process.
Sema thanked BaPa nominees, party officials and campaign workers for their efforts, while acknowledging what he described as “troubling incidents” during the electoral process.
He said BaPa would respect the election results and continue working with the new regional Parliament, reaffirming its commitment to peace, security and stability in the Bangsamoro.
The concession comes as BARMM moves toward its first regularly constituted Parliament and the transition from interim to elected regional leadership.
