Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples elect two representatives to BARMM Parliament through traditional process

Even before the official parliamentary elections on September 14, two representatives from non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (IPs) have already secured their seats in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament. Their selection followed a quiet, customary, and traditional process, distinct from the popular vote.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia described the selection process as "very orderly" and witnessed by him. He noted that these are the first members of the Bangsamoro Parliament chosen through such a method. The convention brought together participating IPs to uphold their customary laws and traditions in selecting their voices for the parliament.

Six NMIP tribes participated: Limbubungan Higaonon, Erumanen ne Menuvu, Blaan, Dulangan Manobo, Lambangian, and Teduray. Their representatives are not chosen through ordinary elections but are based on indigenous political structures and consensus-building. Each recognized NMIP tribe first held its own assembly to select delegates for the regional convention, with each tribe sending two potential parliament members and 10 nominees.

Under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, at least 50% of potential representatives and nominees must be Indigenous women to ensure gender equality. During the convention, delegates unanimously agreed on a rotation system. The Teduray and Lambangian tribes will hold the first seats, with Jo Genna Jover (Teduray) selected as the female nominee and Timuay Leticio Datuwata (Lambangian) as the male nominee. Future representatives will come from the Erumanen ne Menuvu, Dulangan Manobo, Blaan, and Higaonon tribes.

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They are the first members of (the Bangsamoro) Parliament chosen via a quiet, customary, traditional and very orderly selection process that I witnessed.