Manila: Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on Sunday urged voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to exercise their right to vote and help shape the region's sociopolitical and socioeconomic future in its first-ever parliamentary elections on Sept. 14.

According to Philippines News Agency, Sarmiento said Monday's elections mark the completion of the political track of the Bangsamoro peace process. "The path to this landmark occasion has been paved by the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), and the Bangsamoro Electoral Code," he said in a statement.

Sarmiento added that the elections are also a reflection of the tangible gains achieved through the Bangsamoro Peace Process, including a sustained ceasefire, the peaceful decommissioning of thousands of former combatants and their weapons, and continuing development in communities long affected by conflict. "The election is an expression of these gains. I, therefore, urge every voter across the region to exercise their right to vote. The time has now come for the people to establish and own the government they rightfully deserve," he said.

"Each ballot cast is a vote for the future of the region, and a peaceful yet powerful affirmation of their determination to chart the sociopolitical and socioeconomic future of the BARMM. The fate of the Bangsamoro rests in the hands of its people," Sarmiento added.

Sarmiento also stressed that maintaining peace during the elections is a shared responsibility, calling on candidates, political parties, and their supporters to respect the will of the people and help ensure a safe, peaceful, and credible electoral exercise. He urged all stakeholders to protect the sanctity of the elections and preserve the hard-won gains of the Bangsamoro peace process.

Sarmiento cited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for greater participation in the electoral process as a demonstration of the Bangsamoro people's commitment to pursuing peace through democratic means. "The future of the Bangsamoro lies in the will of its people. May the votes you cast bring us closer to our shared aspiration of building a more peaceful, progressive, and inclusive BARMM," he said.