Moro scholar calls for credible, peaceful BARMM polls

The first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will test whether the region’s peace process can move from armed struggle to democratic politics, according to Moro historian Prof. Tirmizy Abdullah.

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The ultimate litmus test

Abdullah, a history professor at Mindanao State University in Marawi, said the Sept. 14 vote should not be treated as an ordinary political contest. He called it “the ultimate litmus test” for the Bangsamoro peace process and said its outcome would reflect the success of that process.

“The first BARMM parliamentary elections is not only historic; it is also fundamentally different from an ordinary election. It is a crucial milestone in our long journey toward peace,” Abdullah told the Inquirer.

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The first BARMM parliamentary elections is not only historic; it is also fundamentally different from an ordinary election. It is a crucial milestone in our long journey toward peace.

He said the polls form part of the broader normalization process, which seeks to replace armed struggle with democratic participation. In his view, the elections are part of the “architecture of peace,” creating institutions and opportunities for Bangsamoro people to pursue their aspirations through peaceful means.

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A peaceful vote means a victory for both peace and the Bangsamoro people.

“A peaceful vote means a victory for both peace and the Bangsamoro people,” Abdullah said. He added that credibility, inclusivity, transparency and peaceful conduct would be essential to validating decades of negotiations and sacrifice. “They are less about choosing lawmakers and more about choosing peace,” he said.

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They are less about choosing lawmakers and more about choosing peace.