WHY WAS AUTONOMY IMPORTANT?Supporters saw greater self-rule as a way to address long-standing grievances over poverty, marginalisation, and underdevelopment while reducing support for armed and extremist groups.The need for stability was underscored in 2017, when Islamic State-linked militants occupied Marawi City for five months in the Philippines’ worst urban battle since World War II.Since BARMM was created, supporters point to improvements in economic performance. The region’s economy grew 5 per cent in 2025, up from 3.5 per cent in 2024 and faster than the national growth rate of 4.4 per cent, according to regional and national accounts.Poverty has declined in…