The first part of this series briefly discussed the different factions within the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP). For this second part, we can briefly discuss the socio-political climate of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The current Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections mirrored how disunited UBJP was at the ground level.
In the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and del Sur, close family ties filed their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the same positions. Groups coming from the UBJP CSO/NGO and UBJP (newly aligned traditional families) run for at the Barangay level. This portrayed the lack of coherence and collective purpose, which may erode public trust and confidence. Voters perceived UBJP as indecisive, which is crucial for the upcoming 2025 midterm local and National elections.
As a consequence, the political agenda of UBJP may be set aside and political divide within the party may widen the gap for the short term Transition period. This can be detrimental to the overall coherence and collective purpose of the region's governance. Thus, this can have several negative ramifications, ultimately eroding public trust and confidence in the party.
The UBJP must understand that one key consequence of a disunited political party is the perception of indecisiveness. When party members are openly divided or unable to come to a consensus on crucial matters, voters may see the party as lacking in clear direction and unable to effectively govern. This perception can create doubt and uncertainty among the electorate, leading to a decreased level of support for the party.
Principles, goals, objectives, political platform, agenda, programs, and activities are vital for the success of any political party. If a party is disunited, it may struggle to effectively communicate its message and agenda to the public. In the absence of a united front, the party's messaging can become disjointed and inconsistent, making it difficult for voters to understand what the party stands for and how it intends to address pressing issues. This lack of clarity can further undermine public trust and confidence in the party's ability to govern effectively. This is the current status of UBJP that they need to address.
Furthermore, if this will not be properly addressed they may face challenges in attracting and retaining competent and dedicated candidates. Potential candidates may hesitate to join a party that is internally divided, as they may fear that their efforts would go to waste or be hindered by infighting. This can limit the talent pool available to the party, potentially weakening its electoral prospects and reducing its chances of success in elections.
Voters within the Bangsamoro are more likely to support parties that demonstrate coherence, unity, and a clear collective purpose. Therefore, UBJP needs to gain public trust and confidence. Not unless they will mainly rely on “money politics” or massive vote buying, then we cannot expect any crucial reforms in the Bangsamoro.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Lobbyist.
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