AN official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) yesterday said preparations for the first parliamentary elections in the region in May 2025 are in full swing as he assured the public that the polls would be “very inclusive.”

BARMM Cabinet Secretary and spokesman Mohd Asnin Pendatun, in an interview with the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program, said the Bangsamoro is committed to ensuring that next year’s parliamentary elections would be credible, honest and have a high voter turnout as directed by President Marcos Jr.

“Preparations for the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is in full swing,” Pendatun said.

“The information-education campaign is being done in all fora to explain the importance of the first parliamentary elections to the electorate,” he added.

He said they are also addressing the peace and order situation and working at increasing the presence of security forces and even “neutral forces” in areas considered “hotspots” to ensure the peaceful conduct of polls and promote the freedom of the people to cast their votes and chose their next leaders in the region.

Pendatun said among the positions to be filled up are the parliamentary seats reserved for sectors that are having difficulty accessing the Bangsamoro legislative space such as the non-Moro indigenous peoples, Christian settlers, youth groups, and the Ulama and traditional leaders, among others.

“The first parliamentary election is very inclusive. These include the reserved seats for the sectors of society that are, based on history, having difficulties getting a representation in the Bangsamoro parliament or the Bangsamoro legislative space,” he said.

Pendatun said voters should look at the platforms of the candidates and parties involved in the elections, adding the platforms should represent and speak to different sectors of the BARMM.

The filing of certificates of candidacy in the BARMM will be held on November 2 to 9.