Cotabato City, BARMM – On November 9, 2024, the Mahardika Party of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), led by Prof. Nur Misuari, officially submitted its Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Parliamentary Elections (MIP-PE) to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Regional Office in Cotabato City. The party’s submission included its list of nominees, Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination (CAN), and Affidavits of Non-Affinity for its 40 nominees ahead of the May 2025 BARMM regional elections.
The move follows a recent decision by the COMELEC En Banc in SPP No. 24-004 (BPP), which recognized the Mahardika Party as a regional political party in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). According to the COMELEC resolution, the Mahardika Party fulfilled all necessary requirements, including meeting membership thresholds, establishing a regional presence, and submitting comprehensive documentation for accreditation as a regional party. The COMELEC stated, “Petitioner has established that it has met the membership threshold, the required existence in the region, and the documentary requirements for accreditation, entitling it to be accredited as a Regional Political Party.”
Among the party’s nominees is Member of Parliament Madam Tarhata Maglangit, who accepted the nomination as the Mahardika Party’s lead candidate. Expressing her gratitude, Maglangit stated, “I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust reposed in me by our Party leaders. It is an immense privilege to be chosen as the bearer of the party flag in the BARMM Parliamentary Elections, and this is a responsibility that I do not take lightly.” She added that the 40 nominees aim to represent not only the hopes of the Mahardika Party but also those of the broader MNLF and the Bangsamoro people.
At a media gathering held at Pagana restaurant following the filing, the Mahardika Party Secretary-General, Atty. Randolph Parcasio, highlighted the significance of the party’s official participation in the regional elections. “The Mahardika Party filed the Manifestation today as part of our commitment to serve and uplift the Bangsamoro community,” Parcasio said. “As the political vehicle of the MNLF, our agenda centers on the right to self-determination and the pursuit of a new generation of human rights, including access to food, livelihood, education, decent housing, healthcare, a clean environment, and other basic needs.”
The Mahardika Party expressed confidence in its slate, which it believes will advance the interests of the Bangsamoro people and embody the MNLF’s mission with its rallying cry, “Hulah, Bangsa, Agama.” Party leaders expressed hope for a peaceful and orderly election in BARMM, reflecting the growing momentum for political and social advancement in the region.
