In an official statement, the BGC thanked supporters and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, inclusive, accountable, and progressive Bangsamoro government. The coalition said the region must now move from the election period toward convening Parliament, electing a Chief Minister, and forming a government ready to serve constituents.
BGC willing to work with rival parties, vows unity talks after polls
COTABATO CITY — The BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) said it recognizes the mandate given by Bangsamoro voters in the recently concluded Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections and expressed openness to working with rival parties UBJP and BFP to form a unified regional government.
In an official statement, the BGC thanked supporters and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, inclusive, accountable, and progressive Bangsamoro government. The coalition said the region must now move from the election period toward convening Parliament, electing a Chief Minister, and forming a government ready to serve constituents.
The BGC acknowledged calls for political parties in Parliament to set aside their differences and said it remains committed to finding common ground with other blocs, including UBJP and BFP, to build what it called a united front for the Bangsamoro.
The coalition said dialogue should be the starting point of that process, with plans to engage other party leaders not to negotiate positions but to listen and identify shared ground. Among the issues it intends to raise are ways to build a more inclusive regional government with room for the Moro National Liberation Front and other parties, faster implementation of the peace agreements — particularly normalization and decommissioning under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) — and accountability for violence and irregularities reported during the elections.
BGC leaders Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal 'Bombit' Adiong Jr., Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman, former Sultan Kudarat Governor and former TESDA Secretary Suharto 'Teng' Mangudadatu, and Sulu Governor Abdusakur 'Sakur' Tan will lead the coalition's dialogues with other political parties, the statement said.
The BGC described the coming negotiations as a test of parliamentary democracy, noting that while elections establish representation, dialogue, consensus-building, and cooperation are what make an effective government possible. It added that beyond forming a government, the process is an opportunity to strengthen Bangsamoro institutions and show that political differences can be resolved through democratic means, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to public welfare.
A hung Parliament
The statement comes after the September 14 elections produced a hung Bangsamoro Parliament, with no party crossing the 41-seat majority threshold out of 80 seats. Official Comelec results showed the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), led by incumbent Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, taking a one-seat plurality with 31 seats, followed by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), led by MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, with 30 seats. The BGC placed third with 15 seats, while the Raayat Democratic Party and the Progresibong Bangsamoro Party each won one seat.
BFP, UBJP also signal openness to coalition talks
Both leading parties have already acknowledged that coalition-building is unavoidable. Macacua told reporters on September 15 that he had called up the three BFP governors to discuss forming a coalition or government, and MILF vice chairman and MP Mohagher Iqbal said the party would need to "coalesce with parties that are likewise advocating similar platforms of government."
Murad, for his part, said before the elections that the UBJP would seek allies if it fell short of a majority, and has since reiterated his openness to negotiating with other parties. Because neither BFP nor UBJP secured a majority on its own, both would need to form alliances with the BGC or each other to control the chamber.