The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the certificate of candidacy of Anwar Salipada Alamada, a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) candidate running for the 5th District of Maguindanao del Sur. The move comes as the region prepares for its first parliamentary elections on September 14.

Comelec 2nd Division granted the petition filed by Rafsanjani Pendatun Ali, a rival candidate running under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP). Pendatun had accused Alamada of not being a resident of the district where he intended to run. In a resolution released by the Comelec, the poll body ruled that Alamada committed “false material representation” in his COC, leading to the cancellation of his bid for the parliamentary seat.

Alamada serves as the chairman of the MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and is a certifying officer for former MILF members applying for amnesty. He has not yet given a statement after the Comelec decision. The historical parliamentary elections for the BARMM are scheduled to take place on September 14. This election marks a pivotal moment in the region’s transition following four previous postponements, with the newly elected members of Parliament expected to assume their duties on October 30, 2026, serving a term that will conclude in June 2031.

The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

And let’s add a bit of context about the region: The BARMM has been plagued by corruption, insurgency, and poverty for decades. The creation of the autonomous region was a result of the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF. However, the region has still faced numerous challenges, including the lack of infrastructure, unemployment, and limited access to social services.

The historic parliamentary elections for the BARMM are scheduled to take place on September 14. This election marks a pivotal moment in the region’s transition following four previous postponements, with the newly elected members of Parliament expected to assume their duties on October 30, 2026, serving a term that will conclude in June 2031. The elections will be the first-ever parliamentary polls for the BARMM, which was established through a 2019 law that merged the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with several municipalities in Lanao del Sur and Cotabato City.

The sample digital ballots have been released and are currently available for public viewing on the Comelec’s official social media pages.

### Key Facts

  • Comelec canceled the certificate of candidacy of Anwar Salipada Alamada, a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) candidate running for the 5th District of Maguindanao del Sur.
  • Alamada is accused of not being a resident of the district where he intended to run.
  • Pendatun had filed a petition against Alamada, accusing him of false material representation in his COC.
  • The decision comes as the region prepares for its first parliamentary elections on September 14.
  • The elections will be the first-ever parliamentary polls for the BARMM.
  • The newly elected members of Parliament are expected to assume their duties on October 30, 2026, serving a term that will conclude in June 2031.