Former Muslim rebels lead results in first election held in southern Philippine region

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Candidates from parties associated with a former rebel group appeared to be leading the first elections in a predominately Muslim region in the southern Philippines, official results showed Wednesday.

The election was a significant step forward for self-rule in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which was rocked by deadly uprisings for decades until a 2014 peace deal in which Muslim rebels agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for a promise of autonomy.

Parties descended from the former Moro Islamic Liberation Front led the polls, but with none taking a majority it remains unclear who will be able to form a government in the regional parliament.

Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia said the final voter turnout was 84% of nearly 2.4 million voters. The region covers five provinces, three cities and 63 additional villages.

The Bangsamoro Federalist Party, led by the region's transitional Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, came first in the party list vote with nearly 36%, winning 16 of the regional parliament's 80 seats. The party has likely won more seats in district elections, but the commission has so far only released the names of the district winners without identifying their party affiliations.

The BFP was followed by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, led by Moro Front chairman and former Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, with more than 32% of votes and 15 seats.

The members of parliament will assume office on Oct. 30 and elect the region’s chief minister, who also serves as head of the executive department. A simple majority of 41 votes is needed.

The autonomous region was established under a 2014 peace deal, replacing an older autonomous region with a larger, better-funded and more powerful area. In exchange, the Moro Front’s 40,000 fighters would to be “demobilized” and given livelihoods and other help to resume normal life.

Since the 1970s, about 150,000 combatants and civilians have died in the southern Philippines, while development was stunted in the country’s poorest region. With bombing attacks and kidnappings, Mindanao was viewed as a haven for al-Qaida and the Islamic State group until a U.S.-backed Philippine offensive weakened the militants.

In May 2017, IS-linked militants laid siege to the city of Marawi, triggering five months of ground assaults and airstrikes that left more than 1,100 people, mostly militants, dead and destroyed the mosque-studded city’s commercial and residential districts.

Murad, in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, said with the region’s first election, “we begin a new chapter towards a government with stronger leadership, true service, and focused on every community and village in our homeland.”

He said the government "comes after a long struggle that is now being lived through democracy.”

A man attacks a vehicle from an opposing group outside a school used as a polling center during the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections in Cotabato city, southern Philippines, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo)

A Muslim woman votes at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections at a school in Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Richel V.Umel)

An armored personnel carrier stays at a checkpoint during the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections at a school in Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Richel V.Umel)

A Muslim woman voter shows the indelible ink on her fingers after voting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections at a school in Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Richel V.Umel)

A group attacks a vehicle from an opposing group outside a school used as a polling center during the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections in Cotabato city, southern Philippines, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit plenty of memorable home runs for the New York Mets.

This one came at their expense — and still earned him a curtain call in Queens.

Alonso launched his 300th career homer Tuesday night, a tying shot in the ninth inning against his former team, and Coby Mayo’s inside-the-park homer in the 11th sent the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-5 victory at Citi Field.

“There’s a lot of history here with me,” Alonso said after receiving a beer shower from his Baltimore teammates. “It doesn’t matter where and when, I just want to help the team win. I’m just really, really happy for us to come back the way we did.”

The Orioles were two outs from a defeat that would have dropped them four games behind Cleveland for the last American League playoff spot when Alonso hit a 414-foot solo drive off Kodai Senga to tie the score 3-all.

A pumped-up Alonso, who hit a club-record 264 homers for the Mets before signing with the Orioles last December, fired his bat toward the Baltimore dugout and shouted in excitement. He rounded the bases as the Citi Field crowd of 28,097 — down from 35,800 for the slugger's return Monday night — roared.

Fans chanted his name until Alonso emerged from the dugout for a curtain call. Then chants of “Fire Stearns” began, aimed at Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.

“Everyone in the dugout was saying go out there,” Alonso said. “And they were right.”

Said Orioles manager Craig Albernaz: “The dugout was fired up for Pete for a lot of different reasons. It was cool to get an acknowledgment from the crowd.”

The rare curtain call on the road continued an outpouring of support from Mets fans for Alonso over the past two nights — and apparently annoyed at least one of his former teammates.

“As the 2026 Mets, I know we have definitely underperformed. But we are — the guys in here work their (tails) off every single day and to have that kind of reaction to an opposing player — could be anybody — is crazy to me," said New York pitcher Sean Manaea, who started Tuesday night. "Again, I’ve got nothing but respect for Pete. But yeah, just never seen anything like that before.

“Pete’s not here," the veteran left-hander added. “He’s just not here. So, I know everybody loves him. He’s the man. But, yeah, he’s not here. So, to see the reaction from the fans like that, I don’t know, it’s just different.”

Alonso became the third player to hit his 300th home run against a team for whom he played in 1,000 or more games. Willie Horton hit No. 300 with Seattle against the Detroit Tigers in 1979, and Torii Hunter did so for the Tigers against the Minnesota Twins in 2013.

Alonso received a two-minute tribute video before the Orioles’ 2-1 win Monday night at Citi Field. He was showered with a thunderous ovation before his first at-bat minutes later, when he was accompanied to the plate by “Layla,” one of his walk-up songs, as “Welcome Back, Pete!” flashed next to his picture on the scoreboard.

He got standing ovations before each of his final three plate appearances as well on Monday, when rookie pitcher Jonah Tong was booed after walking Alonso in the third, and warm receptions prior to his first three at-bats Tuesday.

“I appreciate all the support for all the years I’ve been here, all the life I’ve lived here,” Alonso said Tuesday night. “Obviously, they’re recognizing that and they appreciate that. It’s a two-way street. Really appreciate it.”

Alonso was given his home run ball by the trio of Long Islanders — Michael Shaw, Nick Maldarella and Chris Makarius — who teamed up to catch the milestone drive, which caromed off the second deck of stands in left field and fell into the first deck.

“On the way here, we were saying we’re going to catch his 300th home run,” Maldarella said. “And sure enough, man. It’s crazy.”

Maldarella and Makarius said they each got a hand on it before sharing it with Shaw.

“Never leave a man behind,” Shaw said.

Alonso signed a bat and a ball for each fan in return. He also signed the shirts they were wearing — an Alonso Mets jersey for Shaw and Makarius and a Carlos Delgado shirt for Maldarella — and offered them tickets and batting-practice access at Camden Yards in Baltimore next season.

“Thank you, guys,” Alonso said to the trio outside the visitors' clubhouse. “You guys are so kind. Thank you so much.”

Alonso also posed for a group picture and for photos with each person individually.

“I mean, who doesn’t love Pete?” Shaw said.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso throws his bat after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso looks after his solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso reacts after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso hits a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso, center, acknowledges the crowd after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)