Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri on Monday described the upcoming first regular parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a defining moment for the region’s peace process, stressing that lasting stability must be anchored on a credible electoral mandate.
In a statement, Zubiri emphasized that peace cannot rely solely on signed agreements but must be reinforced by a functioning democratic process.
“Peace is not sustained by agreements alone. It is sustained by a political process that people can believe in, where authority comes from a mandate that is expressed and renewed through elections,” Zubiri said.
He called the first regular parliamentary polls historic, marking the transition from extended interim arrangements to leadership chosen directly by the people.
“It is the moment when governance is strengthened by consent, not by executive appointment, and when leadership is earned through the ballot, not assumed through a prolonged transition,” he said.
Zubiri also rejected the notion that the enabling measure for the elections was simply a matter of adjusting the schedule.
“It is my firm belief that this not just a mere calendar adjustment, but an affirmation of the importance of the people’s voice, and a safeguard for institutions that must be accountable to the communities they serve,” he said.
According to the Senate leader, the elections will send a strong message to Bangsamoro families that their participation is central to shaping their region’s future.
He described the vote as a critical test of whether institutions can genuinely reflect the will of the people.
At the same time, Zubiri underscored the need for thorough preparation to ensure the credibility of the exercise.
“We will work closely with COMELEC and all concerned agencies to ensure that the process is orderly, transparent and honest, because repeated delays create uncertainty, and uncertainty weakens confidence in democratic institutions,” he said.
“We now carry one shared commitment: to deliver a peaceful, credible and meaningful first parliamentary election for BARMM,” he added.