Political realignments continue to reshape the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ahead of the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections. Multiple sources report that more political leaders leave the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) to join the newly formed Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP). The latest reported defector is Maguindanao del Sur Representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who is said to have won in the 2025 local elections while affiliated with the UBJP. Both reports describe the move as part of an ongoing pattern of switching party affiliations in the run-up to BARMM’s first parliamentary polls, which mark a significant shift in the region’s electoral setup. The UBJP is closely associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while the BFP is presented in the reports as a new political party drawing members from the UBJP. The coverage frames these changes as part of broader preparation and jockeying ahead of the official campaign period for the elections scheduled for Sept. 14.