Three candidates of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) and one from the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) were proclaimed winners in Basilan’s four parliamentary districts following Monday’s historic first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE).

Lawyer Miguel Roberto Dela Peña, the officer-in-charge (OIC) provincial election supervisor, led the proclamation ceremony late Tuesday afternoon at the old Capitol Complex in this city, formally declaring the district winners based on the official election results.

Dela Peña said Wednesday that the proclaimed winners were Dr. Rima Hassan of the BFP in District 1, Paisal Sali of the UBJP in District 2, Abrar Hataman of the BFP in District 3, and lawyer Jimael Hataman-Salliman of the BFP in District 4.

“Election officials, the winners’ relatives and other stakeholders witnessed the proclamation at the old Capitol complex,” Dela Peña said in a statement.

The proclamation marked a key step in the transition to the region’s parliamentary government, from appointed to elected by residents of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Dela Peña said voter turnout in Basilan was 78.32 percent.

Basilan has 284,244 registered voters. All except Isabela City, the province’s capital, are politically under BARMM.

Five international election observers wtnessed the conduct of Monday’s BARMM parliamentary polls in Basilan. (PNA)