Polls open in Philippine Muslim enclave after deadly shooting
Voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao participated in a historic parliamentary election following decades of peace negotiations. Despite reports of sporadic violence and some voting irregularities, officials praised the high turnout and the region's commitment to democratic participation.
Why it matters
This election marks a significant milestone in the transition of the Philippines' Muslim-majority region toward self-governance after years of conflict.
More than 2 million voters were eligible to vote for 80 parliament seats that had previously been filled by appointees.
Muslim residents check their names at a voting center during the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections at a school in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines, on Sep 14, 2026. (Photo: AP/Richel V Umel)
MARAWI: Polls closed on Monday (Sep 14) across an autonomous Muslim region of the Philippines that waited decades to choose its own leaders, with officials praising a successful election despite sporadic violence.
The parliamentary election was the culmination of a sometimes-bumpy peace process that began in the late 1990s and established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the country's far south.
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