MILF Vice Chairman Mohagher Iqbal
COTABATO City — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has called on the Philippine government and all concerned institutions to uphold the scheduled Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections set for October 13, 2025.
In an official statement issued Friday, MILF Vice Chairman Mohagher Iqbal, speaking on behalf of Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and the Central Committee, appealed to the national government, Congress, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), and other stakeholders to resist any proposals that may lead to another postponement of the region’s first-ever parliamentary elections.
“The MILF strongly appeals to our national leaders to refrain from entertaining any proposal that will again postpone this historic election,” Iqbal said.
He cited that the BARMM election has already been postponed twice—first from May 2022 to May 2025 under Republic Act 11593 during President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, and again to October 2025 through Republic Act 12123, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in February this year.
Iqbal emphasized the importance of holding the elections to establish a democratically elected Bangsamoro Parliament with a clear mandate from the people. “This is the essence of democracy and the MILF is ready to seek legal mandate through the sovereign will of the Bangsamoro people – in a clean, fair, honest, and credible election,” he said.
While no new bill has been filed in Congress seeking to postpone the elections to 2028, Iqbal raised concern over reports suggesting fresh efforts to delay the vote. He urged lawmakers to publicly commit to maintaining the October 2025 schedule.
“The MILF, through the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, is prepared to participate in the democratic process and will respect the outcome, whether we win or lose,” he stated.
Iqbal concluded with a reminder of the delicate peace in the region, achieved through years of negotiation, urging all parties not to squander the progress made under the Bangsamoro peace process.
