Ahod Ebrahim 鈥擝angsamoro government/Facebook聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Abdulraof Macacua鈥擜bdulraof Macacua/Facebook
COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines 鈥� In a surprise development, President Marcos had appointed a new leader for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which is currently governed by a transition body called the Bangsamoro Transition Authority or BTA.
On Sunday, word about the appointment of Maguindanao del Norte acting Gov. Abdulraof Macacua as BARMM鈥檚 Interim Chief Minister circulated on social media, with several personalities close to him offering congratulatory messages.
A personality within the circle of civil society organizations in the Bangsamoro region, who is known to the Inquirer as an aide of Macacua, but who declined to be identified, confirmed the appointment.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro, also confirmed the appointment.
When sought for comment by the Inquirer about Macacua鈥檚 appointment, replacing incumbent Interim Chief Minister Ahod 鈥淎l Haj Murad鈥� Ebrahim, Castro only said 鈥渙po鈥� (yes), without providing details.
Macacua, while governor of Maguindanao del Sur, is also the chief of the the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the armed component of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ebrahim chairs the MILF鈥檚 central committee.
The Inquirer repeatedly tried to reach Ibrahim or his allies but no one answered the calls and private messages.
Holdover
Macacua has filed his certificate of candidacy for a parliamentary seat in Maguindanao del Norte鈥檚 third district in the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections (BPE) scheduled this October. Ebrahim leads the 40 nominees of the MILF鈥檚 United Bangsamoro Justice Party as its representative in parliament in the BPE.
The BPE was initially set to be held simultaneously with the national and local midterm elections this coming May but the BPE was moved to October this year. Until then, the appointed members of the BTA will serve in a holdover capacity.
The 80-member BTA was organized in February 2019 following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law that provides for the creation of the BARMM, a significant part of the peace accord reached between the government and the MILF in 2014. The BTA has since been headed by Ebrahim.
Macacua is expected to serve at the helm of the BARMM until Oct. 30 this year, when those elected in the Oct. 13 regional elections will assume office.