Normalization track to proceed after BARMM polls - Palace official

MANILA, Philippines - The normalization track of the Bangsamoro peace process will proceed alongside the transition to an elected regional government following the successful conduct of the historic parliamentary elections Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a Malancanang official said.

Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo issued the statement as the first BARMM parliamentary elections mark a major turning point in the peace process, completing its political track while opening the next phase of the region's transition toward a fully elected parliamentary government.

The September 14 elections recorded an 84.34% voter turnout, with 2,018,478 voters casting their ballots, according to the Commission on Elections, underscoring the broad participation of Bangsamoro voters in the historic exercise.

The elections were generally peaceful across the region and were described as peaceful by police authorities and election officials.