BARMM Interior Minister warns vs. interfering in parliamentary process amid leadership pick

COTABATO CITY — Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG-BARMM) Minister Jordan Bayam has issued a stern reminder to all political parties in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to strictly respect the mechanisms and integrity of the parliamentary system now that the elections have concluded.

Speaking during a kanduli celebration held for his brother, newly elected Member of Parliament Zulfikar-Ali “Sol” Bayam of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), Minister Bayam emphasized that only the members of the Bangsamoro Parliament possess the exclusive power and authority to choose their leadership.

This authority includes selecting the new Chief Minister, the Speaker, and other key parliamentary officials.
According to the interior minister, a party’s decision to participate in the polls inherently means they voluntarily accept the framework and rules governing a parliamentary system.

"The moment you manifested your participation in the election... tinanggap nila na sila ay mapapailalim sa sistema ng parlamento. Kung ikaw ay tumatanggap doon, ibig sabihin igagalang mo ang proseso ng parlamento," Bayam stated.

(...They have accepted that they will be within the parliamentary system. If you accept that, it means you must respect the process of parliament.)

He explained that under the established system, the political group or coalition securing the necessary numbers or majority holds the clear mandate to form the government.

Bayam issued a firm warning against any attempts to interfere with, intimidate, or coerce elected lawmakers regarding their votes, asserting that the legislators must be allowed to vote independently and free from external pressure.

"Sa loob po ng parliamentary system, walang pwedeng pakialam kung sino ang gusto nilang lider... Only the members of the parliament are allowed to vote kung sino ang gusto nilang chief minister, speaker, and all of the rest of the officials," he clarified.

(In the parliamentary system, nobody may interfere with their choice of leader...Only the members of the parliament are allowed to vote for who they want to be chief minister, speaker, and all the rest of the officials.)

Bayam added that the members of parliament are independent-minded and should never be dictated to. He concluded with an appeal to all sectors and political parties to cooperate in ensuring a peaceful, orderly, and legal transition of the regional government.

Last weekend, a broad coalition of farmer and fisherfolk group htrew its weight behind former Interim Chief Minister and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) Chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim to return as BARMM Chief Minister.

The United Bangsamoro Farmers Without Borders, led by Maguindanao del Norte Board Member Datu Michael Abas Kida, formally rallied behind Ebrahim, viewing him as an essential unifying figure capable of healing past political divides and anchoring the ongoing peace process to its full realization.

The agricultural group has appealed to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to safeguard the integrity of the parliament and maintain steadfast backing for the Bangsamoro peace process, while urging newly elected MPs to rise above partisan politics for regional stability.

"Ang hiniling ko lang sa inyo, we pray... Ipanalangin natin na si ating Amirul Mujahideen, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, siyang maging chief minister at ang peace process ay tuloy-tuloy, para sa gayon magiging bagong economic tiger ang BARMM," Kida expressed.

(My plea is that we pray that our Amirul Mujahideen, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, becomes the chief minister and that the peace process will continue, so that BARMM will continue on its way to becoming the new economic tiger.)

The newly elected 80 Members of Parliament are scheduled to officially convene, take their oaths, and assume office on October 30, 2026. They will then be electing the region's first regular Chief Minister, the Speaker, and other key parliamentary officials. — BM, GMA News