President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has lauded the successful conduct of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s first parliamentary elections.
This was after he met with Interim BARMM Chief Minister and Bangsamoro Federal Party chairperson Abdulraof Macacua at Malacañang.
The Presidential Communications Office shared photos of their meeting on Wednesday.
“The meeting also discussed the way forward for the newly elected BARMM Government, including the continued implementation of development programs and delivery of essential services for the Bangsamoro people,” it said.
The PCO added in a statement: “The discussion likewise covered the continuation of the normalization track of the peace process to sustain the gains of peace and development in the region.”
Macacua won the parliamentary seat representing the third legislative district of Maguindanao del Norte in BARMM’s first regular parliamentary elections.
The historic polls resulted in no single party securing majority of the seats in the 80-member parliament.
The BFP got 31 seats, while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-backed United Bangsamoro Justice Party won 30 seats.
“The successful conduct of the first parliamentary elections marks the completion of the political track of the Bangsamoro peace process and the region’s transition to a fully elected parliamentary government,” the PCO said.
During the meeting, Marcos and the 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 new members of the Bangsamoro Parliament will assume office on October 30 and will organize the region’s parliamentary government, including the election of a Chief Minister.