Polls close in landmark Bangsamoro elections in southern Philippines

Polling closed for the maiden parliamentary elections in the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro autonomous region on Monday amid several violent incidents, local news outlet Rappler reported.

At least 3 people were killed and another 15 injured in separate incidents involving shootings and explosions, state-run Philippine News Agency reported, citing police officials.

"Polling precincts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are now closed as of 7 pm," but voting was extended in some towns in Basilan due to compromised ballots, Rappler reported.

Polls opened at 7 am local time (2300GMT Sunday) and closed at 7 pm (1100GMT Monday).

​​​​​​​Voting started as scheduled in most monitored locations in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte and the Special Geographic Area.

However, the Philippine National Police said at least 13 polling centers in Maluso, Basilan, have yet to begin voting. These polling stations were affected by allegedly pre-shaded ballots previously reported by the Commission on Elections.

The Commission on Elections announced an extension of the voting process in Al-Barka, Basilan by two hours.

Initial results are expected later Monday evening local time.

Some 700 candidates from 13 regional political parties are vying for seats in the Bangsamoro parliament, the region’s highest legislative body.

Nearly 2.4 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in an election seen as a crucial step toward self-governance and lasting peace after decades of armed conflict.

A total of 80 seats are at stake. These include 40 political party representatives, 32 district representatives and eight sectoral representatives.

The election commission is using automated counting machines previously deployed during the May 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is home to around 5 million people, the majority of whom are Muslim.

It covers five provinces, three cities and 63 villages across eight special geographic area clusters.

In January 2019, voters approved the Bangsamoro Organic Law in a referendum, paving the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to govern the region following decades of resistance by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, led by Murad Ebrahim.

The elections were initially planned for 2022 but were delayed four times before being held Monday.