http://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/

Mindanao Climate Justice, Mindanao Islands, Butuan City (2026)

10/10/2026

⁨📷⁩ ⁨🌿 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘, 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡.

This Indigenous Peoples Month, we share the voices and commitments of Lumad communities in Bukidnon.

On October 3, Indigenous community representatives from across the province gathered in Malaybalay City for 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀’ 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, organized by the Indigenous Peoples Apostolate of the Diocese of Malaybalay.

Lumad leaders and communities, Church representatives, youth, and civil society partners—including Mindanao Climate Justice (MCJ)—came together to discuss ancestral land rights, cultural life, environmental protection, and climate justice.

Community testimonies about threats to ancestral lands grounded the gathering in the realities Indigenous Peoples face. Their message was clear: protecting the environment means upholding the rights of the communities whose lives, livelihoods, and cultures are rooted in it.

As the gathering affirmed:

𝗬𝘂𝘁𝗮 𝘂𝗴 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗶, 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗱𝗮𝗻.
Land and life, we will defend.

𝗞𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝘂𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻.
Culture and rights, we will uphold.

𝗞𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗵𝗮𝗻, 𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗶 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗮𝗻.
Neither creation nor people will we abandon.

Read and share our full story, “𝗜𝗣 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼: 𝗕𝘂𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.”

🔗 https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/ip-month-in-mindanao-bukidnon-lumad-defend-land-life-and-creation/

⁩

06/10/2026

💧 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗔𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗕𝗢-𝗣𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗬𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥

This Indigenous Peoples Month in the Philippines, help Manobo-Pulangiyon families protect their community water source.

Together with the Manobo-Pulangiyon Kiantig (MPK), an Indigenous community in Mindanao, we are raising funds to repair their well in Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon, southern Philippines.

More than a hundred community members—including elders, women, and children—live in roadside shelters near the ancestral land they seek to return to. They face limited access to safe water, food, and land for farming, alongside the daily dangers of highway traffic.

Families report that pesticides and other plantation chemicals enter their water source. Community members have also reported illness and skin irritation. Protecting the well and testing its water are urgent community needs.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹.

Funds will pay for repair materials and labor, including strengthening the well’s concrete lining to help reduce the entry of potentially contaminated surface runoff. Water testing is also needed to determine whether the water is safe for community use.

💚 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗚𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗛
09197 065 273
Account name: Kinaiyahan Youth Organization

To arrange other donation methods or offer support for water testing, contact MCJ at [email protected].

El Niño adds to the urgency. In its September 23 advisory, PAGASA, the Philippine weather agency, forecasts that El Niño will persist through the first half of 2027. Drier conditions could make water harder to obtain for families whose access is already insecure.

MPK’s ancestral land provides food, medicine, and livelihoods, and holds sacred places central to the community’s cultural life. After applying in 1998 and waiting 25 years, MPK received its Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title in 2023, formally recognizing the community’s ancestral domain. Yet the families remain displaced.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and responsible government agencies must uphold that title and ensure the community’s safe return. They must also address immediate water needs and investigate reports of possible contamination. Donations can help repair the well, while government action remains essential to protect the community’s rights.

The Season of Creation concluded on October 4 with the theme “Living Water.” Helping protect MPK’s water source is one concrete way to carry its call to care for our common home forward.

We welcome everyone’s support. Individuals, organizations, churches, and community groups can donate, organize a collection, connect the community with water-testing support, or share this appeal.

𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼-𝗣𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲.

📞 Contact: +63 930 081 5328
📧 [email protected]
📩 https://www.facebook.com/mcj.mindanao.climate.justice

A joint initiative of Mindanao Climate Justice (MCJ), PANAAD Network, PANALIPOD People’s Coalition, and Kinaiyahan Youth Organization, in partnership with MPK.

03/10/2026

🌿 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀?

When Raymart, a young advocate from Bataan, heard Aisanie Pangandaman Ibrahim speak about Marawi, he wanted to bring her account home—so people in his province could hear about the city from someone who lived there.

Their exchange was one of the connections formed at 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, held September 21–23, 2026 in Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines.

Four young women from Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, brought distinct experiences: Angelika from a Blaan Indigenous community in Sultan Kudarat; Lady Jean from a Talaandig Indigenous community in Talakag, Bukidnon; Aisanie, a Moro Muslim woman from Marawi; and Fatima, a Christian woman from Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

They joined fellow advocates from Luzon and the Visayas to share stories, listen, and ask concrete questions: 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀? 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?

Through storytelling, art, and dialogue, participants explored connections across their struggles and imagined ways to continue working together. At the heart of that exchange was a responsibility: to carry stories with their context and respect communities’ choices about how they are shared.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿.

The convening was co-created by the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility, Inc. (MCJ), the Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR), the Rising Alliance of Youth for Transformation (RAYT), and the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau (WLB).

📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/mindanao-youth-share-climate-justice-stories-across-the-philippines/

14/09/2026

📍 𝗠𝗖𝗝 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘
𝟭𝟰 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗗 𝟯𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟, 𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗨𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲. Details and incident figures may change as MCJ, independent observers, and election authorities verify incoming reports.

Around 𝟯𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 have been mobilized for the first regular parliamentary election of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The massive security operation includes armored vehicles and military helicopters, while tanks and heavy weaponry have also been reported in particular areas.

While adequate security is necessary to protect voters and election workers, this overwhelming armed presence has not prevented violence or reports of serious electoral irregularities.

Deadly gunfire was reported near a polling center in Cotabato City before voting opened. Other reports involve gunfire and an explosion in different areas. Allegations of vote-buying and possible multiple voting have also emerged.

Election authorities, meanwhile, confirmed the discovery of pre-shaded ballots intended for 𝟯𝟲 𝗼𝗳 𝟲𝟴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗼, 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻, and ordered their replacement.

Confirmed incidents must be publicly accounted for. Allegations that remain under verification must be documented and investigated—not dismissed, exaggerated, or prematurely presented as established findings.

These developments make any sweeping declaration of a peaceful election untenable while voting and verification remain underway.

Nearly 𝟮.𝟰 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 are expected to elect an 80-member Parliament composed of 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives, and eight sectoral representatives.

This election is a historic democratic gain born from generations of Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination and meaningful self-government. Precisely because this vote was won through great sacrifice, it must meet the highest standards of freedom, integrity, and accountability.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗧𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗?

After casting his ballot, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘇𝘆 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, a Marawi-based Moro peace scholar and co-convenor of PANALIPOD People’s Coalition, raised a fundamental question:

“What is the purpose of deploying such a large number of military and security forces—including tanks and heavy weaponry—if irregularities inside polling precincts are not properly monitored or addressed?”

Prof. Abdullah reported that a voter allegedly found their name already signed on the voters’ list, raising concern that someone may have voted in their name. The relevant voters’ list must be preserved and the incident immediately investigated. It must not be declared proven before verification—but neither should it disappear without an official answer.

𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿.

Tanks, armored vehicles, helicopters, and thousands of armed personnel cannot guarantee electoral integrity if reports of voter substitution, pre-shaded ballots, vote-buying, multiple voting, intimidation, or partisan interference inside polling places are ignored.

Security must guarantee that every qualified voter can enter without fear, receive a legitimate ballot, vote freely, and have that vote counted honestly.

As Prof. Abdullah emphasized:

“𝗔 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.”

The present reports make the standard even clearer: BARMM’s election cannot be broadly declared peaceful while violence is taking lives or endangering communities. It cannot be declared credible while serious allegations of electoral fraud remain unanswered.

This echoes the call of 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼, a COMELEC-accredited, independent and nonpartisan election observers’ mission:

“𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿.”

𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗖, 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗪𝗜

At Saduc Central Elementary School in Marawi City, MCJ staff observed residents from Tampilong, Raya Saduc, Panggao Saduc, Saduc Proper, and Lilod Saduc participating in the election.

Several voters and a first-time poll watcher described voting there as fast, calm, and orderly. This is one local account—not a conclusion about the election throughout BARMM.

The orderly conditions observed in Saduc must be recorded alongside—not used to dismiss—the violence and credible complaints reported elsewhere.

𝗠𝗖𝗝 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗬-𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢:

• Stop election-related violence and intimidation;
• Prevent vote-buying, multiple voting, voter substitution, and partisan interference;
• Protect voters, election workers, journalists, and independent observers; and
• Preserve election records, investigate credible complaints, and ensure transparent counting and canvassing.

The Parliament’s legitimacy matters because its decisions will affect ancestral lands, Marawi rehabilitation, displacement, livelihoods, essential services, disaster protection, and climate justice across BARMM.

The test is not simply whether voting continues. It is whether every voter is protected, every ballot is freely cast and honestly counted, and every credible complaint is answered.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹—𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀—𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲.

📷 Photos: MCJ monitoring at Saduc Central Elementary School, Marawi City, 14 September 2026.

13/09/2026

🕊️ 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧. 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙-𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧—𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘.

“It is a historical struggle to assert the Bangsamoro people’s right to self-determination.”

—𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗰𝗼-𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗮𝗺, Mindanao scholar and MCJ Board Member

On the eve of BARMM’s first regular parliamentary election, one truth must be clear: Bangsamoro autonomy is not an experiment whose success or failure should be placed solely on the Moro people.

BARMM emerged from generations of resistance, negotiation, and sacrifice. It represents a political settlement recognizing the Bangsamoro people’s right to govern themselves—not a favor granted on the condition that they prove themselves worthy.

Tomorrow’s election is therefore not a test of whether the Bangsamoro deserve autonomy. It is a test of whether democratic institutions will honor that right—and whether the Philippine government will fulfill its obligations as a party to the peace process, not behave as an outside examiner.

But self-determination must reach every community. It must include justice for displaced Marawi families, protection for non-Moro Indigenous Peoples and their ancestral lands, political space for women and young people, and climate justice for communities confronting disasters, displacement, and livelihood loss.

Genuine autonomy means people having power over the decisions that shape their land, resources, development, and collective future.

𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/beyond-the-ballot-youth-and-communities-set-the-tests-for-peace-in-barmm/

13/09/2026

🕊️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧. 𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘.

“The BARMM parliamentary election is not just an ordinary election. It is part of a long peace process.”

—𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘇𝘆 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗵, co-convenor, PANALIPOD People’s Coalition

Tomorrow’s election is the product of generations of Moro struggle, negotiation, and sacrifice. It will establish BARMM’s first regularly elected Parliament and begin a new stage in Bangsamoro self-governance.

But the view from Marawi warns us: 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲.

Lanao del Sur, including Marawi City, accounts for 30.4% of BARMM’s registered voters—the region’s largest share. Yet electoral strength has not ended the struggle of families affected by the 2017 Siege for dignified return, just compensation, restored livelihoods, and a genuine voice in rehabilitation.

Peace also remains unfinished while communities face armed violence, private weapons, land conflict, displacement, environmental destruction, and climate disasters without adequate protection.

The next Parliament must turn representation into justice and material change. The Philippine government must fulfill its continuing obligations under the peace process. National and international partners must judge progress not by institutions created, but by rights secured, communities protected, and lives rebuilt.

𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗧𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘇𝘆’𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/beyond-the-ballot-youth-and-communities-set-the-tests-for-peace-in-barmm/

13/09/2026

🌏 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘: 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘

“Climate justice is also about peace, land, displacement, livelihoods, and accountability. Communities must have real power over decisions affecting their lives.”

—𝗡𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗮, Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility

Tomorrow, BARMM voters will choose their first regularly elected Parliament—a body that will help decide how public resources are spent, whose lands and livelihoods are protected, and how communities prepare for disasters and recover from conflict and displacement.

As a young Meranaw displaced by the 2017 Marawi Siege, Nosaira connects climate justice with the everyday struggle for land, livelihood, dignity, and community power. Her experience shows how conflict, poverty, displacement, and climate disasters can reinforce one another when affected people are excluded from decisions.

Climate justice requires more than emergency relief. It demands resilient public services, dignified recovery, protected ancestral lands and livelihoods, and genuine community participation in decisions over land, development, and public resources.

The incoming Parliament and the Philippine government must be accountable to communities confronting floods, food and water insecurity, displacement, and livelihood loss. National and international assistance must be community-led, rights-based, transparent, and accountable.

𝗜𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗮’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/beyond-the-ballot-youth-and-communities-set-the-tests-for-peace-in-barmm/

13/09/2026

🗳️ 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘: 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗝𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

“The transition must be judged by whether displaced families return safely, ancestral lands are protected, and communities can meaningfully participate.”

—𝗔𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁, Senior Lecturer and Head Legal Officer, UP Law Center Institute of Human Rights

Tomorrow, nearly 2.4 million voters will elect BARMM’s first regularly elected Parliament. The vote is a historic step in the Bangsamoro people’s continuing struggle for self-determination—but it does not complete the peace process.

The election must be peaceful, credible, and inclusive—free from violence, intimidation, vote-buying, disinformation, and abuse of state resources.

After the votes are counted, the incoming Parliament and the Philippine government remain responsible for fulfilling the promises of peace. These include justice and dignified return for displaced families, protection of ancestral lands, the transition of former combatants and conflict-affected communities toward secure civilian lives, and meaningful public participation.

Progress must be visible in people’s lives: in safer communities, protected rights, accountable institutions, and climate justice for those facing disasters, displacement, and livelihood loss.

National and international partners must continue listening to communities, supporting independent monitoring, and ensuring that assistance advances human rights and community priorities.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗜𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/beyond-the-ballot-youth-and-communities-set-the-tests-for-peace-in-barmm/

12/09/2026

🌿 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘: 𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟

“Ancestral land is more than property. It is deeply connected to the identity, history, and survival of Indigenous communities.”

—𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲 𝗨. 𝗕𝘂𝗮𝘆𝗮, 𝗠𝗣𝗔, former Senior Commissioner, Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission; Indigenous leader, peacebuilder, and public administrator

Two days before BARMM elects its first regularly elected Parliament, Archie reminds us that ancestral land is not simply an asset. It carries the identity, history, livelihood, and collective future of Indigenous Peoples.

For non-Moro Indigenous communities in BARMM, recognition on paper is not enough. Their ancestral lands must be protected, their security upheld, and their voices respected in decisions over development and natural resources.

This is also a question of climate justice. When communities lose control over their land, they become more vulnerable to displacement, environmental destruction, livelihood loss, and climate disasters.

The election must ask more than who will govern. It must ask whether the next Parliament will protect the land, rights, and survival of every community within BARMM. For national and international observers, this will be a defining test of whether the Bangsamoro political transition is genuinely inclusive.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/beyond-the-ballot-youth-and-communities-set-the-tests-for-peace-in-barmm/

12/09/2026

🕊️ 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘: 𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦

“Peace must be measured by whether displaced families return safely, ancestral lands are protected, and marginalized communities can shape their future.”

—𝗔𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗜𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺, Chairperson, Kinaiyahan Youth Organization–Marawi Chapter

Two days before BARMM elects its first regularly elected Parliament, Aisanie brings the meaning of peace back to the communities it is meant to serve.

More than nine years after the 2017 Marawi Siege, affected families continue to seek safe and dignified return, just compensation, restored livelihoods, and a meaningful voice in rehabilitation. Indigenous Peoples continue to defend their ancestral lands, while young people and marginalized communities demand a genuine role in shaping public decisions.

These are also climate-justice demands. Conflict, displacement, poverty, and climate disasters deepen one another when communities are excluded from decisions over land, recovery, development, and public resources.

The significance of 14 September extends beyond BARMM. It will test whether a peace agreement supported by the Philippine government and international partners can deliver rights, dignity, accountability, and lasting change on the ground.

𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗠:
https://mindanaoclimatejustice.com/beyond-the-ballot-youth-and-communities-set-the-tests-for-peace-in-barmm/

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