MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) recognizes the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections as a historic milestone in the Bangsamoro's continuing journey toward peace, self-determination, democratic governance, and meaningful political participation.
For PAHRA, the election is not only about choosing representatives. It is about ensuring that every qualified voter can exercise the fundamental right to vote freely, safely, equally, and without fear, intimidation, coercion, violence, or discrimination.
We call on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Bangsamoro Government, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), local government units, and all concerned government agencies to fulfill their duty to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights throughout the campaign period, Election Day, and the post-election period.
PAHRA particularly calls on the government to protect every voter's right to participate in the electoral process without fear or coercion and to prevent and respond promptly to election-related violence, threats, intimidation, harassment, and attacks. Government institutions and security forces must remain politically neutral, with safeguards against the misuse of public resources or authority for partisan purposes.
Human rights defenders, journalists, community leaders, election observers, candidates, campaign workers, and other election stakeholders must likewise be protected from threats, harassment, violence, and reprisals. The electoral process must ensure meaningful and non-discriminatory participation of Moro communities, Indigenous Peoples, settler communities, women, youth, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and other marginalized sectors.
PAHRA also calls for full respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and access to information. Election-related human rights violations and offenses must be promptly investigated, with effective remedies and accountability regardless of the identity or political affiliation of those responsible.
A HISTORIC ELECTION MUST PROTECT THE TRI-PEOPLE
The electoral process must recognize the rights and aspirations of the Moro, Indigenous Peoples, and settler communities, the tri-people of BARMM.
PAHRA supports a Tri-People Agenda anchored on peace, self-determination, ancestral domain, ecological development, human rights defender protection, and human rights.
This means sustaining the gains of the peace process and protecting communities from violence, displacement, and injustice; ensuring meaningful participation in shaping the political, social, economic, and cultural future of BARMM; and protecting the ancestral lands, resources, culture, and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples.
It also means advancing a sustainable, rights-based alternative economy beyond extractive, exploitative, and destructive practices, while ensuring that human rights defenders and community advocates can work without threats, harassment, violence, or reprisals. Above all, the rights of all people must be respected, protected, and fulfilled without discrimination.
PAHRA also welcomes the recent selection of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIP) representatives to the BARMM Parliament during the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention, Timuay Labi Leticio Datuwata, a Lambangian leader defending ancestral lands and Indigenous Peoples' rights, and Jo Genna Jover, a Teduray advocate for Indigenous women's rights.
This is an important step toward genuine Indigenous representation and reflects the continuing struggle for recognition and meaningful participation in BARMM governance.
PAHRA HUMAN RIGHTS ELECTION MONITORING
PAHRA members in Mindanao, including the Alliance of Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR), Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP), SUMPAY Mindanao, and Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA), are initiating the BARMM Human Rights Election Monitoring through IM4Peace.
PAHRA is calling on its members and networks nationwide to join in solidarity and amplify the initiative at the national level through a joint monitoring, documentation, protection, rapid response, referral, and advocacy mechanism.
We will monitor and document human rights concerns before, during, and after the elections; support appropriate interventions and remedies; and, when necessary, elevate serious or systemic violations to national and international human rights mechanisms.
September 14 must be a day when the people of BARMM can exercise their right to vote, not a day when they are forced to choose between their political rights and their safety.
A credible election cannot be separated from human rights. A peaceful election is a human rights obligation. The right to vote must be protected. Every voice must be heard without fear.
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