108 int'l observers to monitor historic BARMM polls — OPAPRU - GMA Network

A total of 108 observers from 16 international organizations and delegations are expected to monitor the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

Among the participating delegations are the Embassy of the State of Palestine, The Asia Foundation, EU-Coordinated Diplomacy, Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS), International Republican Institute (IRI), Chinese Embassy in Manila, IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), Australian Embassy in the Philippines, British Embassy Manila, Digital Memory Association (Dijital Hafıza Derneği) of Türkiye, Embassy of Japan, Asian Network for Free Elections and National Democratic Institute (ANFREL/NDI), Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Philippines/Center for Liberalism and Democracy, Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT), and the International Jurists Union.

Of the total delegations, ANFREL/NDI has the largest number of participants, with 22 members.

This is followed by the Embassy of Japan with 17 and EU-Coordinated Diplomacy and IRI with 14 participants each.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Philippines/Center for Liberalism and Democracy, GNAT, and the International Jurists Union have seven participants each.

The observers are scheduled to monitor activities in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, the Special Geographic Area, Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, Lamitan and Isabela in Basilan, Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga City.

The observers will also visit election-related facilities, including the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Office and Command Center, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Regional Command Center, OPAPRU Operation Center, Camp Awang, Camp Siongco, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology City Jail, and the Cotabato City Canvassing Center.

In a statement on Saturday, Presidential Adviser Mel Sarmiento said the presence of international observers is significant as the Bangsamoro enters a new chapter in its governance.

“This election is not simply about choosing leaders. It is about realizing the decades-long aspirations of the Bangsamoro people who have dreamed, worked and sacrificed a lot for peace, self-governance and a better future,” Sarmiento said.

BARMM will hold its first parliamentary election on Monday, September 14, with voters choosing representatives to fill the 80 seats in the Bangsamoro parliament government.

A part of the region’s peace process, the Bangsamoro election marks a major step in the transition from an interim government through the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to an elected regional administration.

In the Bangsamoro region, the legislative power is vested in the Bangsamoro Parliament, while the executive power is given to the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the judicial power is exercised in the Supreme Court, as well as in the Shari’ah and regular courts within the Bangsamoro territorial jurisdiction that form part of the Philippine judicial system.