MANILA, June 5 -- Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on Friday urged wise voting during the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) polls on Sept. 14 as doing so "will lay the foundation for a stable government" in the region.

In a statement, the peace adviser described the parliamentary elections as a "defining moment ... to choose the leaders they rightfully deserve" and a "new and exciting chapter" in the region's history.

"The upcoming elections must, therefore, be viewed not only as a political exercise but, more importantly, as a vital component of nation-building," Sarmiento said.

"A peaceful, orderly, and credible election will lay the fo...