Tight security measures are in place in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, as voters participate in the first BARMM Parliamentary Elections on Monday, September 14, 2026. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News
COTABATO CITY — Newly elected members of the Bangsamoro Parliament are expected to elect their leaders when they assume office on October 30.
Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the first item on the parliament's agenda is selecting leaders, including their chief minister and their speaker.
"Ang chief minister ang namamahala sa kabuuan ng Bangsamoro. Ang speaker naman ang namamahala doon sa parliamento lamang,” Garcia told ABS-CBN News.
Anyone who is eyeing to be the chief minister must have the support of 41 members of the parliament — the majority required to form a government before the opening of its session next month.
He said none of the parties that joined the elections managed to win 41 seats, which they can get through proportional representation and by having candidates run to represent parliamentary districts.
After landmark polls, BARMM facing hung parliament
The Bangsamoro Federalist Party secured 16 seats, while the dominant majority party — the United Bangsamoro Justice Party — got 15 seats.
The BARMM Grand Coalition got eight seats and the Raayat Democratic Party has one.
Of the 80 members of the parliament, 40 are for political parties, 32 are for the parliamentary districts, and eight are for sectoral organizations.
One of the solutions, Garcia said, is to have a coalition of political parties form a majority.
BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who was elected representative of the 3rd District of Maguindanao del Norte said forming a coalition with other political parties is inevitable.
"Because you cannot really form a government without completing the majority of the 41, 42, or a simple majority, for that matter. So, you have to look for a coalition government to establish a government," Macacua told reporters.
Garcia acknowledged the coalition process will not be easy because of differing positions on issues, personal conflicts and other disagreements among parties and personalities.
"At mas mahirap yung pagpapanatili na matatag yung coalition," he said.
(And it is even more difficult to maintain a strong coalition.)