[Rappler’s Best] A vote buried in the noise - Rappler

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BARMM. The Philippine flag stands alongside the flag of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao outside the Office of the Chief Minister in Cotabato City.

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The first of its kind parliamentary elections in the Philippines are finally happening today, Monday, September 14, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), after repeated postponements in the last four years. 

Something hopeful is happening in the country, and it’s happening in BARMM, was how civil society groups put it in this curtain-raiser by Iya Gozum. We’re covering the polls live here.

The late former president Noynoy Aquino must be wincing in irony, he who paved the way for this historic vote when he shook hands with the rebel commander Ebrahim Murad and signed a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2012. After all, it’s under the son of the dictator who fueled the Mindanao rebellion that these elections are now taking place.

The Aquinos have had a soft spot for the MILF. Nearly a year after she was catapulted to power in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, then-president Corazon Aquino met in Cotabato City with the unarmed Murad, who gave her a bouquet of flowers tied with a yellow ribbon. I recalled that moment, and what happened (or did not happen) after, in this piece. 

Today, Murad and the MILF fight for survival and relevance through the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), which is fielding the most number of candidates for district, party, and sectoral seats at 81. Macacua’s Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) is not far behind with 74 candidates.

Our reporters Iya Gozum and John Sitchon, who are in Cotabato City, covered the colorful grand rallies of the political parties last Saturday, September 12, (watch their report). While an important political process, the polls have been clouded with uncertainty and fear, Herbie Gomez wrote in this story.

You can’t be blamed, though, for having lost track of the crucial events that led to today’s elections — because Manila continues to dominate the attention economy with the antics and shenanigans of politicians based here.

Former speaker and presidential cousin Martin Romualdez was charged with plunder on September 7, a non-bailable offense, but, quick to the draw, he had himself confined in Cardinal Santos hospital before he could be served an arrest warrant.

While Romualdez and his counsels are now in uncharted legal territory, the judiciary handed the other side of the Marcos clan an astounding victory: the Supreme Court reversed a previous court ruling that convicted the President’s 97-year-old mother, former first lady Imelda Marcos, of graft in 2018 — and acquitted her.

By the way, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is retiring in November. The Court in August opened applications for the post.

We take this moment to express our condolences to the family of the revered sports journalist Recah Trinidad, who died on Sunday, September 13. 

Val Villanueva takes a deep dive into documents pertaining to Villar Land’s revaluation and recognition of enormous accounting gains. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Mon Abrea tackles a common question nowadays: should billionaires pay more taxes?

Lance Spencer Yu explains why removing the much-hated travel tax can be easier said than done.

Lourence Angelo Marcellana profiles the Singsons and their unrivaled dominance in Ilocos Sur. Read about other political dynasties here.

Who are the retired justices tapped to advise impeachment court on voting threshold?

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