Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday called on candidates, political parties and other stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, credible and transparent electoral process as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held its first parliamentary elections.

“The first election in BARMM is a historic step toward self-governance, peace, and inclusive development of the Bangsamoro,” Duterte said in a statement.

She urged candidates and political parties to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and called on voters to exercise their right to vote responsibly.

Duterte said voters should choose leaders who would genuinely serve the Bangsamoro and promote good governance and the welfare of the region.

The 14 September polls are the first regular parliamentary elections in the autonomous region and are seen as a key step in its transition from the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority to an elected regional government. Nearly 2.4 million registered voters are casting ballots to elect an 80-member parliament.

The parliament will consist of 40 party representatives, 32 district representatives and eight sectoral representatives. Its members will later elect the region’s chief minister.