Moro Ako party nominees arrive at the Bangsamoro Electoral Office in Cotabato City to file their manifestation of intent to participate in the May 2025 elections. Photo by Guinevere Latoza/PCIJ.org

(UPDATED) Eight Bangsamoro regional parties have received accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to participate in the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), while three others have pending applications.

Here’s the list provided to Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ):

Accredited Regional Political Parties
(As of Nov. 10, 2024)

Political PartyAcronym
1. United Bangsamoro Justice PartyUBJP
2. BARMM Grand CoalitionBGC
3. Al-Ittihad-Ungaya sa Kawagib Nu BangsamoroAl-Ittihad-UKB
4. Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang ProgresiboSIAP
5. Progresibong Bangsamoro PartyPro Bangsamoro Party
6. Moro AkoOK Partylist
7. Bangsamoro PartyBAPA
8. Bangsamoro People’s PartyBPP
9. Bangsamoro Peoples Democratic PartyRaayat Democratic Party
10. Mahardika PartyMahardika

The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) is the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC) is a region-wide coalition of major political parties, including:

  • the Al-Ittihad party led by former TESDA Sec. Suharto Mangudadatu and Maguindanao del Sur Governor Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu
  • the Bangsamoro People’s Party (BPP) led by Basilan lone Rep. Mujiv Hataman;
  • the Serbisyong Inklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) party led by Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong; and
  • Salaam party of Sulu Governor Sakur Tan.

Three of BGC’s member political parties received individual accreditations from Comelec: Al-Ittihad-UKB, SIAP and BPP parties.

Hataman’s BPP was initially denied accreditation, based on the list provided to PCIJ. It received accreditation after it filed a motion for reconsideration, according to Comelec regional director Ray Sumalipao.

Tan’s Salaam did not file for accreditation following the Supreme Court ruling that excluded the province from BARMM.

MNLF parties

Two factions of the Moro National Liberation Front received accreditations as regional political parties: the BAPA party of the Muslimin Sema faction and the Mahardika party of the Nur Misuari faction.

Mahardika party was initially denied accreditation. It filed a motion for reconsideration and eventually received accreditation, according to Sumalipao.

The applications of six regional parties were dismissed:

  • Indigenous People’s Democratic Party
  • Partido Bangon Bangsamoro
  • United Advocates for Settler Communities (1-ASC)
  • Amanat Democratic Party
  • Bangsamoro Federal Party
  • Indigenous, Settlers, Sama and Minorities Alliance Party

Status of Accreditation as of October 17, 2024

— PCIJ.org