Bangsamoro held its first parliamentary election on Monday under tight security and minor disruptions. The vote is a crucial measure of whether the peace deal can turn armed struggle into stable self-rule.

For former rebels who spent decades fighting the Philippine state, the new parliament also represents a shift from armed struggle to policymaking.

The Senate committee on foreign relations has approved the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and France, paving the way for the treaty’s plenary ratification next week.