The Bangsamoro Federalist Party announces a 46-member coalition majority in the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament on October 2, 2026, paving the way for the formation of the region’s next government. (Photo courtesy of BFP)
COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) has finally secured a 46-member coalition in the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament, giving it a working majority to organize the next Bangsamoro Government following the region’s historic parliamentary elections.
The BFP announced on October 2 that it had secured the support of 46 elected members of parliament, including coalition partners and other lawmakers who signed a coalition government document committing to work together under a common governing arrangement.
The coalition represents a majority of the 80-member First Regular Bangsamoro Parliament, positioning the BFP and its partners to move forward with organizing the regional government and preparing for the parliament’s inaugural session.
The development follows weeks of consultations and negotiations with political parties and individual lawmakers after the September 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, the first regular parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a statement, the BFP said the coalition-building effort was aimed at establishing a stable, inclusive and functional government capable of responding to the needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. “We thank our coalition partners and our fellow elected Members of Parliament for their trust, cooperation, and collective commitment to put the interests of the Bangsamoro people above political differences,” the party said.
The BFP added that the agreement reflected a shared responsibility to establish a government that could immediately address the region’s priorities.
Coalition to shape incoming government
With the majority secured, the coalition will proceed with organizing the Government of the Day and preparing for the inaugural session of the First Regular Bangsamoro Parliament.
The BFP, led by interim Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua as party president, said its coalition partners would also work to finalize the incoming administration’s priorities, with an emphasis on peace, good governance, development, and improving the lives of Bangsamoro communities.
The formation of the coalition marks a significant step in the transition to the region’s regular parliamentary system, in which the composition of parliament and the alliances among elected lawmakers will determine the formation of the government.
Unlike a presidential system, where the executive is elected separately, a parliamentary government depends on maintaining the support of a majority of lawmakers to organize and sustain the administration.
The BFP’s 46-member bloc gives it a numerical majority in the 80-seat parliament, although the coalition’s ability to govern will ultimately depend on its members’ cooperation and support for its legislative agenda.
Promises cooperation and shared responsibility
The party said the coalition was built around a shared program of governance rather than political differences, pledging to work with its partners to advance the region’s priorities. “As the Bangsamoro enters this historic new chapter in self-governance, the BFP said the coalition will focus on cooperation and shared responsibility in advancing peace, good governance, development, and the continued upliftment of the lives of the Bangsamoro people.”
The party also described the alliance as a collective undertaking intended to serve the people of the region. “We look forward to working together and serving our people through a coalition government founded on shared responsibility and our common aspirations for the Bangsamoro,” it said.
The BFP ended its announcement with a declaration that the coalition was formed for the people of the Bangsamoro. “This coalition is a coalition of the Bangsamoro people, for the Bangsamoro. Para sa Bangsamoro!”
The announcement did not identify the individual lawmakers or political parties that make up the 46-member bloc, nor did it specify the final allocation of leadership posts and other positions in the incoming government. Those details are expected to become clearer as the coalition proceeds with organizing the parliament and finalizing the structure and priorities of the new administration.
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