MILF front commander, outgoing BTA MP, issues post-election statement

COTABATO CITY -- Following the conclusion of the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Eastern Mindanao Front Commander Akmad "Commander Jack" Abas, a sitting Member of the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, issued an official statement on the polls after placing 17th on the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) nominee list — two places short of retaining a seat in the incoming legislature.

In the statement released from the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) Eastern Mindanao Front headquarters at Camp Rajamuda and dated September 17, 2026, Abas described the culmination of the inaugural parliamentary elections as a significant milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process and the fulfillment of something long worked and prayed for in the region.
Addressing the electoral outcome, Abas emphasized that carrying out the mandate of MILF leadership was the core objective, regardless of individual seat allocations.

"Carrying out the marching orders of our Amirul Mujahideen and Party President, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, was already a victory in itself," Abas stated.

"The electoral results are but a bonus. What matters most is that we remained faithful to the cause, the process, and the principles that brought us this far."

The UBJP was allocated 15 of the 40 regional party seats after receiving 613,663 votes, or 32.44 percent of the total, according to the Commission on Elections canvass report. Abas placed 17th on the party's nominee list.

As the region prepares to transition to a regular Bangsamoro Government, the front commander urged supporters and the broader public to approach the upcoming governance chapter with discernment, compassion, and a renewed sense of service.

He also offered a direct charge to the newly elected Members of Parliament, reminding them of the weight of their incoming mandates.

"To the Members of Parliament-elect, the amanah (trust) entrusted to you by the Bangsamoro is sacred," Abas noted. "May you honor that trust through legislation that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of our people, especially those whose voices are too often unheard."

Expressing gratitude to party supporters for their sacrifices and vigilance, Abas said the true measure of their struggle extends beyond electoral tallies.

"In the end, we will not be judged merely by the number of votes we earned, but by the number of people we truly empowered, the lives we helped uplift, and the difference we made in the communities we were entrusted to serve," he added.

The BTA Parliament, whose members were appointed by the national government, gives way on October 30 to the 80-member elected Bangsamoro Parliament.