The United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), is facing potential election offense charges ahead of the September 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE). This development follows the filing of an opposition to the party's registration as a Regional Parliamentary Political Party (RPPP) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Opposition Petition Filed
Sahabudin Panambulan Usop filed an eight-page opposition petition urging the Comelec to investigate the UBJP for alleged election law violations. Usop requested that the Comelec declare the UBJP in violation of election laws and order the Law Department to conduct a preliminary investigation against its officers.
Alleged Violations
The petition accuses the UBJP of violating the election gun ban and prohibitions against violence. Specifically, it claims that UBJP members, supporters, and leaders displayed firearms during political assemblies for the 2025 National and Local Elections without prior Comelec authorization. The petition also notes that the MILF suspended decommissioning, leaving over 14,000 combatants armed, which it argues demonstrates the UBJP maintains armed capabilities inconsistent with peaceful political processes.
Additionally, the petitioner alleges that the UBJP violated the ban on accepting foreign contributions. It claims the UBJP owns and controls iHH Insani Yardim Vakfi Ugur Suleyman in Cotabato City, which serves as a conduit for foreign financial contributions from Turkish governmental and quasi-governmental entities. This, according to the petition, violates Sections 81 and 95(h) of the Omnibus Election Code, which absolutely prohibit foreign funding.
UBJP Registration Opposed
Usop asked the Comelec to deny the UBJP's bid to register as an RPPP for the forthcoming BPE, emphasizing the commission's role as guardian of the electoral process. He argued that registration requirements for RPPPs must be rigorously enforced.
UBJP Response
UBJP President Al Haj Murad Ebrahim described the party's participation in the BPE as indispensable. He argued that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) exists because of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was made possible by the MILF. Therefore, excluding the UBJP from the elections would be unimaginable.
On April 28, Ebrahim led the submission of the UBJP's Sworn List of Authorized Signatories to the Comelec, as required for the BPE. The authorized signatories include Ebrahim, Executive Vice President Mohagher Iqbal, and Vice President Matarul Estino.
