BARMM leaders urge residents to avoid political feuds on social media as tensions rise ahead of the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections. (Contributed Photo)
Political tensions rise ahead of the September parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). But two local leaders from Maguindanao called on residents Saturday to resist being drawn into bitter social media clashes that threaten community harmony.
Marshall Sinsuat, vice governor of Maguindanao del Norte and a senior member of the provinceโs peace and order council, warned that heated political exchanges on Facebook were beginning to erode the culture of coexistence long nurtured in Bangsamoro communities.
โElectoral exercises just come and go. Our relationship as neighbors, townmates and as residents of the Bangsamoro region stays as long as we live,โ Sinsuat said in a statement on Saturday. โUnity among us is the moral force that shall propel development in our province.โ
Social media political discourse becomes hostile
The appeal comes as online political discourse in BARMM has grown increasingly hostile in recent weeks, with netizens, political supporters, local officials, and anonymous social media personalities exchanging accusations and insults over rival parliamentary candidates.
BARMM will hold its first-ever regular parliamentary elections in September, a pivotal vote seen as a major test of the regionโs evolving autonomous government and peace process.
Sinsuat said Islam and other faith traditions practiced in the Bangsamoro region emphasize peaceful dialogue and mutual respect, especially during moments of political disagreement.
Mayor Raida Tomawis-Sinsuat directed barangay officials to discourage residents from engaging in social media political squabbles.
‘Preserve peace’
โOur goal is to preserve the peace and calm in our communities,โ she said, referring to the townโs fishing and farming villages.
The couple has long promoted interfaith and intercultural programs in Datu Blah Sinsuat, where Muslim, Christian and Teduray residents live side by side. Local officials consider the municipality on Maguindanao del Norteโs western coast among the provinceโs most peaceful towns.
Political observers say the growing intensity of online rhetoric reflects the high stakes surrounding the upcoming BARMM elections, which will shape the future leadership of the autonomous region amid continuing efforts to sustain peace and regional development.
About The Author
