COTABATO, Sep 12 (Alliance News): On a basketball court in the Philippines’ Marawi, ballots piled high on pallets awaited transport to towns across a Muslim-majority region that has traded decades of separatist violence for a chance at self-determination.
Not far away, campaign posters were displayed on the sides of bombed-out buildings, a reminder of the deadly battles between jihadist fighters and government forces nearly a decade ago.
Following an on-and-off peace process that began in the late 1990s, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is set to hold its first polls on Monday, replacing appointed parliamentarians with elected representatives.
In a region long affected by political violence and blood feuds between powerful families, a peaceful election would be regarded as a major success, party leaders told AFP.
“Everyone agrees that more than winning, we need to preserve the relative peace we’ve achieved,” said candidate Naguib Sinarimbo, a key strategist for the newly formed Bangsomoro Federalist Party (BFP).
Former rebels and political dynasties are expected to dominate the polls, while Christian and Indigenous minority groups are also seeking representation.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which fought for regional autonomy in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, is now divided between two competing political parties.
An estimated 14,000 MILF fighters remain under arms.
Thousands of them have followed military commander Abdulraof Macacua into the BFP after President Ferdinand Marcos appointed him as interim chief minister.
The senior MILF leadership opposed the appointment, with thousands of fighters remaining loyal to longtime chairman Murad Ebrahim and his United Bangsamoro Justice Party.
Security checkpoints have increased in recent weeks, while more than 20,000 security personnel have been deployed to protect polling stations. However, the run-up to Monday’s vote has not been without incidents.
Last month, a motorcade carrying Macacua came under attack and was hit by gunfire.
A convoy of around 200 armed MILF fighters was also turned away from Cotabato after violating the terms of the region’s peace agreement, election official Ray Sumalipao said.
‘Brother against brother’
At a base of the MILF’s military wing outside Cotabato, a young fighter told AFP he feared a possible clash between former comrades.
At 78, Murad rejected the possibility of conflict, saying there would be “no conflict” and that the “spirit of brotherhood” was stronger than political differences.
He said he maintained communication with former allies who remain members of the MILF despite losing their ranks.
The group’s former chief negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal, also said the group would accept the election result if it lost fairly.
Murad said acceptance of the outcome would depend on how the polls were conducted, alleging that military operations during elections could intimidate voters.
Sinarimbo, from the rival faction, warned against the idea that only those who fought for autonomy were entitled to govern the region.
“There are risks involved,” he said, adding that the progress achieved so far was enough to encourage all parties to continue supporting the peace agreement.
“There’s no turning back.”
Learning to vote
In Lanao del Sur province, home to Marawi, Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Adiong said returning former combatants to civilian life was the most critical issue facing the region.
“Decommissioning was the central purpose of the peace talks,” he said.
The Adiong family has joined other regional political dynasties in forming the BARMM Grand Coalition, presenting itself as an alternative to the divided MILF.
For many voters, however, the election represents an unfamiliar process.
During a voter education session in one of BARMM’s Christian communities, candidate Emelita Cordero asked residents who knew how to vote.
No one raised a hand, said Cordero, 57, whose small BEST party is fielding a slate that is nearly half women.
She said the voter education sessions were helping generate enthusiasm among residents.
Sumalipao, the regional head of the election commission Comelec, told AFP he expected voter turnout of at least 80%.
At a wet market in Cotabato, 70-year-old vendor Luzminda Juanilla said she was happy to finally have the opportunity to choose her own leaders.
“It was exhausting before. There was so much killing,” she said.
“It took a long time, but it’s here now.”
