Elected leaders from the Moro Independence Front (MILF) receive promised continuation of Bangsamoro region elections
The upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE), scheduled for October 13, 2025, will fill 73 out of 80 seats in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). However, the seven seats meant for Sulu remain vacant, leaving their allocation uncertain[1][2][4].
The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), led by MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim who is also its president, is open to the possibility of holding special elections to fill these vacancies. This option may be pursued if legislation reallocating the seats is not completed, and the Bangsamoro Parliament has missed deadlines to do so[2][4].
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suggested that these vacant seats may be filled through other means, such as presidential appointment, a Supreme Court ruling, or future legislation from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) or the Philippine Congress[2][5]. The final decision on how the seven parliamentary seats for Sulu will be filled is yet to be made and may come from a future ruling or legislation.
During a meeting with Comelec Chairman George Garcia on July 17, 2025, Ebrahim expressed that they see no valid reason to postpone the parliamentary polls and mentioned that they have not seen any major challenges to the conduct of the elections[3]. The UBJP is willing to comply with the regular elections but is open to the possibility of special elections if the regular elections cannot be complied with.
The BPE marks the first-ever parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Comelec has confirmed that they will hold the BPE on October 13, with 73 seats up for grabs[1]. The special elections, if held, will be conducted at a later date.
[1] Rappler. (2025). Comelec sets BARMM polls on October 13, 2025. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/294300-comelec-sets-barmm-polls-october-13-2025
[2] MindaNews. (2025). UBJP open to special elections for Sulu seats. Retrieved from https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2025/07/ubjp-open-to-special-elections-for-sulu-seats/
[3] ABS-CBN News. (2025). MILF leader open to special polls for Sulu seats. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/22/25/milf-leader-open-to-special-polls-for-sulu-seats
[4] Philippine Star. (2025). UBJP mulls special elections for Sulu seats. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/07/22/2131415/ubjp-mulls-special-elections-sulu-seats
[5] GMA News Online. (2025). Comelec open to filling Sulu seats through presidential appointment, legislation. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/nation/politics/753400/comelec-open-to-filling-sulu-seats-through-presidential-appointment-legislation/story/
- The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) is open to holding special elections to fill theseven vacant parliamentary seats in Sulu, if regular elections cannot becomplied with and if legislation reallocating the seats is not completed by the Bangsamoro Parliament.
- The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (BARMM) upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) will fill 73 out of 80 seats on October 13, 2025. However, the final decision on how the seven parliamentary seats for Sulu will be filled, either through regular elections, special elections, presidential appointment, Supreme Court ruling, or future legislation, is yet to be made.
- During the general news, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) leader, Murad Ebrahim, mentioned that he sees no valid reason to postpone the parliamentary polls for the BARMM, which marks the first-ever parliamentary polls in the region, while also suggesting that they are open to the possibility of special elections if the regular elections cannot be complied with.
%20receive%20promised%20continuation%20of%20Bangsamoro%20region%20elections){kind=link}