Civil society groups urge BARMM parliament to shun traditional politics

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — As the first elected Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) opened its inaugural session Friday, civil society leaders, peacebuilders, and rights advocates warned against trading a revolutionary legacy for the transactional spoils of traditional politics.

Rights advocacy group Katungod Bangsamoro framed the assembly not merely as a legislative milestone, but as an acute stress test of whether the regional government can break away from the clan rule, patronage, and elite compromise that crippled past autonomy projects.

“We specifically challenge the elected members of the new Parliament who emerged from the revolutionary traditions and struggles of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front to remain true to the principles that once guided their fight, and not succumb to the rotten practices of traditional politics,” lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate, co-convener of Katungod Bangsamoro, told the Inquirer in a text message.

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“Entering parliamentary politics must never mean turning their backs on the aspirations of the people they fought for,” Zarate added. “Their struggle was never about grabbing positions and privileges for a new ruling class, but ending historical oppression and advancing genuine self-determination, justice, and a dignified life for the people.”

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Katungod Bangsamoro warned that the initial regional polls had already shown disturbing signs of dynastic entrenchment, money politics, and electoral manipulation.

READ: Bangsamoro starts a new chapter

The group pressed lawmakers to prioritize the dismantling of land dispossession, the protection of ancestral domains for both Moro and Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP), and full accountability for public funds.

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Civic leaders also underscored the heavy human cost that carved out the path to regional self-rule.

Drieza Lininding, chairman of the Marawi-based Moro Consensus Group, urged lawmakers to rise above partisan division and honor the sacrifices that bought their seats.

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“To my brothers and sisters in the Parliament: As you take your seats in this solemn chamber, remember that you carry the dreams of generations and the blood of those who paved this way,” Lininding told the Inquirer by phone.

He added: “Put aside pride, unite in brotherhood, and let every law you craft serve as a shelter for the Bangsamoro people.”

Abel Moya, executive director of nongovernment Pakigdait, Inc., welcomed the recent milestone in the BARMM, but pointed out that this must translate into realities on the ground in terms of changing people’s lives.

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“My earnest hope is that the Parliament will vigorously pursue the peace accord roadmap alongside these administrative efforts—specifically pushing forward the normalization track through continued decommissioning and the comprehensive transformation of camps like Camp Bilal, ensuring that the promise of genuine security and lasting peace is felt directly by the communities on the ground,” Moya said in a phone interview with the Inquirer. /cb