President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated Interim Chief Minister and Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) Chairman Abdulraof Macacua on the successful first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The President met with Macacua at Malacañang on Wednesday, following the September 14 elections that +recorded an 84.34 percent voter turnout, with 2,018,478 voters casting their ballots, according to the Commission on Elections.

The BFP secured 16 party seats, closely trailed by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) with 15 seats, and the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) with eight seats, alongside other regional parties and district representatives.

The historic polls marked a major milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process and the region’s transition from an interim administration to a fully elected parliamentary government.

The elections also marked the completion of the political track of the Bangsamoro peace process.

During the meeting, Marcos and Macacua discussed the way forward for the newly elected BARMM government, including the continued implementation of development programs and delivery of essential services to the Bangsamoro people.

The President and BARMM leaders also discussed the continuation of the normalization track of the peace process to sustain the gains in peace and development in the region.

The 80 newly elected members of the Bangsamoro Parliament are set to assume office on October 30 and will organize the region’s parliamentary government, including the election of a Chief Minister. Presidential News Desk