Cagayan de Oro City — Candidates under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) beat the deadline in filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on Thursday, drawing thousands of supporters across the Bangsamoro region ahead of the first-ever parliamentary elections in 2026.

The simultaneous filing of candidacies across several districts signaled what political observers described as one of the largest coordinated political mobilizations since the filing period opened.

For residents and voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the filing period marks the formal start of a historic electoral transition that will shape the region’s new parliamentary government structure.

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In Cotabato City, supporters crowded areas near the Bangsamoro Government Center as candidates submitted their COCs.

Cotabato City Police Director Jibin Bongcayao estimated the crowd at around 15,000 to 20,000 people but said the event remained peaceful and orderly.

The filing day also highlighted efforts to project political unity among Bangsamoro groups.

Members of the Bangsamoro Party (BaPa) and Mahardika joined BFP candidates during the event, publicly supporting what leaders described as “friendly politics” and a peaceful parliamentary transition.

Political leaders urged supporters to avoid election-related hostility and focus instead on issue-based campaigning as BARMM prepares for its first parliamentary polls.

Among those who filed candidacies for parliamentary district representative posts were:

Maguindanao del Norte

  • 1st District – Prince Khalid P. Tomawis
  • 2nd District – Ibrahim P. Ibay
  • 3rd District – Abdulraof A. Macacua (Independent)
  • 5th District – Ishak V. Mastura

Maguindanao del Sur

  • 1st District – Datu Tawakkal Midtimbang
  • 2nd District – Sajid Andre S. Ampatuan
  • 3rd District – Daud B. Upam
  • 4th District – DJ Parok D. Mangudadatu
  • 5th District – Rafsanjani P. Ali

Cotabato City

  • 1st District – Romeo P. Sema (Mahardika)
  • 2nd District – Naguib G. Sinarimbo
  • 3rd District – Tomanda D. Antok

Special Geographic Area

  • 1st District – Butch P. Malang
  • 2nd District – Dulia D. Sultan

Tawi-Tawi

  • 1st District – Julbert S. Que
  • 3rd District – Rhosatina Matolo-De Asis
  • 4th District – Nurmahadil K. Ahaja

Basilan

  • 1st District – Rima H. Hassan
  • 2nd District – Abbas B. Salung
  • 3rd District – Abrar J. Hataman
  • 4th District – Jimael Salam D. Salliman

Political observers expect campaign activities across BARMM to intensify in the coming months as parties position themselves for the region’s first parliamentary elections, widely seen as a defining moment for Bangsamoro governance and political representation.