ZAMBOANGA CITY – Muslims in southern Philippines are backing the governor of Sulu province, Sakur Tan, as the next chief minister of the Bangsamoro autonomous region, largely run by former rebels, ahead of the 2025 midterm polls.

This was confirmed by Amir Mawallil, a member of the regional parliament and spokesman for the BARMM Grand Coalition, saying 'the Bangsamoro people are backing Tan because they want peace and progress in the region that will benefit not only the Muslims but even the Christians and Indigenous communities.'