TACURONG CITY (MindaNews / 12 May) - While Cotabato City, the seat of government of the Bangsamoro region, will soon be under the political grip of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after majority of the candidates it fielded dominated the local elections, the front lost big time in Maguindanao, the MILF's traditional bailiwick.

In a historic move after decades of rebellion, the MILF joined the May 9 political fray by fielding candidates under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political party it founded in 2014 following the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro after 17 years of negotiations with the Philippine government.