Voters take part in mock polls, civic dialogue ahead of BARMM elections

MANILA, Philippines – What issues matter most to Bangsamoro communities? What challenges do voters face ahead of the region’s first parliamentary elections? And how can citizens participate meaningfully in shaping the future of the Bangsamoro?

More than 100 participants from across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) gathered at Notre Dame University (NDU) in Cotabato City on June 9, for Rappler’s “#AmbagNatin: Boto para sa Bangsamoro” public forum. 

Students, educators, civil society representatives, community leaders, journalists, election stakeholders, and citizens came together to discuss the issues shaping the region and help voters prepare for the region’s first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026.

The public forum, featuring panel discussions with community leaders, advocates, journalists, academics, and election officials, provided an avenue for participants to discuss the issues that matter most to Bangsamoro communities. Discussions focused on voter education, representation of marginalized sectors, access to reliable information, and the challenges of the community ahead of the elections.

The following served as panelists during the forum:

• John Rex C. Laudiangco – Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson
• Apollo Isidro Valensoy Jr. – Faculty member,  Notre Dame University
• Abdulnasser Bagundang – Faculty member, Notre Dame University
• Edward Abelardo – Chairperson, Non-Moro Indigenous People’s Youth Network
• Drema Quitayen-Bravo – Station manager, Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation
• Samarudin Samsudin – Core producer, S’bang Ka Mindanao
• Neil John Martin – Member, Alliance of Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights
• Jennevie Paguilidan Cornelio – Member, Inged Fintailan

Participants also took part in a simulated voting exercise facilitated by(Comelec, where they reviewed sample ballots formatted in the same style as those to be used on election day, bearing fictitious candidates. They also went through a guided mock election process, including the proper way of feeding ballots into the automated counting machine.

Aside from the forum, Rappler also conducted workshops for youth leaders, student journalists, and civic advocates from across BARMM on election coverage, basic research, and safety while on the field as part of Rappler’s “#AmbagNatin: Boto para sa Bangsamoro” voter empowerment roadshow. Participants who completed the training will join Rappler’s network of civic engagement volunteers, called Movers, and help strengthen community reporting and election monitoring efforts in BARMM. They also helped cover the public forum as part of the training.

Catch a recording of the public forum here on Friday, June 26, at 4 pm. You can also check out the Bangsamoro Movers’ coverage of the public forum in the Bangsamoro Voices chat room on the Rappler app.

The Cotabato City leg of the roadshow was organized by Rappler, in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines and in partnership with NDU, Institute for Autonomy and Governance, BALAOD Mindanaw, and Comelec.  – Rappler.com