COTABATO CITY — 11 September 2026 — The Independent Election Monitoring Center–BARMM (IEMC–BARMM) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) have strengthened their partnership to help ensure the peaceful, transparent, and honest conduct of the first-ever Regional Parliamentary Elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on 14 September 2026.

 

The agreement was formally signed through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by IEMC Convenor Atty. Benedicto Bacani and IBP National President Atty. Allan Panolong, in the presence of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson George Erwinn Garcia.

 

Under the agreement, IEMC–BARMM, a COMELEC-accredited consortium of election-monitoring organizations based in Cotabato City, will lead field operations and consolidate monitoring reports from various parts of the region.

 

The IBP, meanwhile, will provide legal assistance by reviewing evidence gathered in the field, identifying possible violations of election laws, and assisting in the preparation and filing of cases before COMELEC or other appropriate agencies.

 

The partnership focuses on key objectives, including the preparation and assessment of monitoring reports for possible legal action; providing legal guidance to strengthen the documentation of electoral offenses; and recommending policies and institutional reforms to COMELEC and the BARMM Parliament for future regional elections.

 

The two organizations reaffirmed their strict independence and political neutrality, emphasizing that the agreement does not constitute an endorsement of any party, candidate, or electoral slate.

 

IEMC-BARMM has eight member organizations: the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Notre Dame University (NDU), Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA), Coalition for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), and Notre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC).

 

COMELEC Chairman Garcia welcomed the initiative, saying: “Napakaimportante nitong nilagdaan ng IBP at ng IEMC sapagkat may matatakbuhan ang mga kababayan natin kung saka-sakaling mayroon silang mapapansin o makikita na gusto nilang ireklamo.”

 

He also praised the successful debate involving 13 political parties organized by IEMC, which he described as proof of a “freewheeling discussion kung saan naipahayag ng mga kandidato ang kanilang mga plataporma para sa BARMM.”

 

According to Atty. Panolong, “Ang bisa ng anumang halalan ay hindi lamang nakasalalay sa pagdaraos nito kundi sa kredibilidad at katapatan ng proseso.”

 

He added: “Ang IBP ay magbibigay ng naaangkop na tulong legal at gabay. Tutulungan natin ang [IEMC] na suriin ang legal na sapat na batayan at halaga bilang ebidensiya ng kanilang mga ulat at tukuyin ang naaangkop na paraan para sa pagsasampa ng kaukulang reklamo sa Commission on Elections o ano pa mang competent na authority.”

 

Atty. Bacani said: “Dito magsasama yung legal and monitoring, and then we will move this forward — [iyong mga reports ng IEMC] — yung monitoring na may mas malakas na ngipin, and IBP will provide the technical assistance to the monitoring groups.”

 

“Itong first parliamentary election, we will do more than just monitoring. We will recommend prosecution for electoral offenses. Hopefully, this signing of agreement will also serve as notice to everybody — to political parties, to voters and stakeholders — na hindi lang marami ang nagmamasid, but are concerned that a normal election not only in the BARMM but the whole country [must not only be] peaceful but also credible,” Atty. Bacani emphasized.