COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/26 August 2026)—The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao officially named its first non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Representatives for the upcoming 80-seat BARMM Parliament on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, bypassing traditional elections in favor of an inter-tribal convention governed by customary law. The event, organized by the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Committee at the Pagana Convention Center, gathered delegates from six major non-Moro indigenous groups—the Teduray, Lambangian, Erumanen ne Menuvu, Dulangan Manobo, Blaan, and Limbubungan Higaonon—for the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Regional Inter-Tribal Convention.
During the proceedings, Jo Genna M. Jover, representing the Teduray tribe, and Leticio L. Datuwata, representing the Lambangian tribe, were selected as sectoral representatives. The convention established a rotation system, with the Teduray and Lambangian tribes taking the first term, followed by the Erumanen ne Menuvu and Dulangan Manobo tribes, and then the Blaan and Limbubungan Higaonon tribes in subsequent terms.
Unlike other sectoral groups elected through direct voting, the selection of non-Moro indigenous representatives is conducted via tribal assemblies under customary law—a right guaranteed by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054). The process was implemented through the Bangsamoro Electoral Code (Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35, amended by Parliament Bill No. 419) and COMELEC Resolution No. 11235.
