Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-MNj
- EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
MANILA (SDN) — It’s done!
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chief of Staff Abdulraof A. Macacua is officially now the interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This was reported by Assistant Secretary Jordan S. Bayam of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) in a social media post.
Before his appointment as the chief executive of the Bangsamoro government, Macacua served as the BARMM senior minister and minister of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENRE)
After a spate of rumors and speculation, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed on March 9 the President’s appointing the MILF’s top military officer.
That set of a wild turn on social media, the news about his appointment — which the President signed on March 3 — becoming a viral topic as it hit home in the Bangsamoro region.
A Virgo as having been born on September 13, 1957, Macacua’s appointment is a fitting gift when he turns 68 six months from now.
His parents are Salma B. Macacua and Macacua W. tubo-Tubo in Gambar, Kabuntalan, Cotabato, which today is part of Maguindanao del Norte.
The new BARMM chief minister, married to Hadja Guianima Balang with seven children, joined the Moro independence movement in 1971, adopting the nom de guerre “Sammy Gambar”, a nod to his birthplace.
He is a battle-tested MILF leader and, rising from the ranks, soon became the chief of staff of the MILF’s BIAF.
BARMM Organic Law mandates MILF to lead transition phase
Like many other leaders of the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), he trained both here and abroad on military tactics.
During the peace negotiations between the MILF and the Philippine government (GPH), he was one of the peace panel members, later joining the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) assigned to draft the Bangsamoro region’s organic law.
When the BARMM was established by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), Republic Act No. 11054, he was appointed to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) which is running the BARMM as it completes its transition from the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
As the change of leadership in the autonomous region nears completion with the expected turnover of the reins soon, the Bangsamoro Government assured the public on of a smooth transition.
“We assure the people of a smooth leadership change, one that will not disrupt the operations of the Bangsamoro Government, nor hinder our commitment to continued delivery of services and programs,” a statement the regional government issued on March 10.
Macacau and the Marcos re-appointed Members of the Parliament (MPs) and new appointees will server the remaining seven months of the transition period, leading to the first regional regular elections on October 13, 2025.
The BARMM called on the Bangsamoro to stay united. “As we approach the final stretch of the transition period, we call on everyone to remain united in our collective pursuit of moral governance, justice, peace, and a brighter future in the Bangsamoro.”
In relation with this, the Bangsamoro Government sent its gratitude to Ebrahim as it highlighted his leadership and cementing the region’s political foundation.
“Through his guidance, our region has witnessed a transformative journey — where social bonds have strengthened with the implementation of people-centric programs, economic opportunities have flourished contributing to the drastic decrease in poverty incidence, and political foundations have grown ever more steadfast through the passages of landmark legislations and policies.”
The BARMM Charter, R.A. No. 11054 has mandated that the MILF shall lead the Bangsamoro government’s transition which started in January 2019.
To implement this, the BOL stipulates 41 MPs from the MILF side and 39 from the government side, which has been the norm for the last five years or so.
Whether this legally arranged setup hold true, it would be known in the coming days.
The first parliamentary election was supposed to be held on May 2022, but the BTA was extended for another three years, then another the second extension until October 13 when 80 regular members of the BARMM parliament shall be voted upon. (♡)