COTABATO CITY, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) who will sit in the interim parliament until after the predominantly Muslim region holds its first parliamentary elections this October.
Outgoing BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim is one of the appointees – he will have a seat in the region’s parliament.
BTA spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) remains the dominant force in the regional government even after Malacañang announced the leadership change on Sunday, March 9.
Marcos has appointed Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua as the second interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), replacing Murad, the MILF chairman who led the region since its establishment in 2019.
Murad has been appointed to replace Jamael Macauca, the son of the new chief minister, in the BTA.
A partial and incomplete list of appointees to the BTA includes Tomanda Antok, who will replace Ibrahim Ali; Abdulbasit Rajamuda Benito, set to succeed Aida Silongan; Ma-Arouph Bajunaid Candao, replacing Maleiha Candao; and Amirrodin Yusop Gayak, succeeding Abdullah Gayak.
“The Bangsamoro Transition Authority is still MILF-led, and the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is still Al Haj Murad,” Pendatun told Cotabato-based broadcaster DXMS-Radyo Bida.
Pendatun said Murad will now focus on preparing the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) for the elections. The former BARMM interim chief minister is also UBJP president.
“This development will help the party because of the need [for someone like Murad] to lead the preparations for the parliamentary elections,” Pendatun said.
Antok, Maguindanao del Norte’s provincial administrator, confirmed that he was among those appointed to the BTA. He said he was preparing to relinquish his current position.
“Definitely, someone will replace Governor Macacua as provincial governor, but that is in the pipeline for the next meeting in Malacañang,” he said.
Reshuffle expected
A new set of BARMM ministers and other regional officials is expected, Pendatun said.
“[Macacua] has to organize his cabinet, so we can expect possible changes – but to what extent, how many or how drastic, we don’t know yet. Of course, that’s the decision of the incoming Chief Minister, in consultation with the leadership of the government of the day,” Pendatun said.
BARMM Interior Minister Sha-Elijah Dumama-Alba said officials were waiting for the final list of newly appointed members of parliament.
Antok said a list of majority MILF nominees had been submitted and is now with Malacañang for approval.
Meeting at Camp Darapanan
On the day of the appointment, top MILF leaders, including Macacua and key figures led by Murad, convened at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. Pendatun said the meeting was intended to discuss ways forward on the latest development.
“The meeting ended on a positive note. Everyone was happy. Everything was okay,” Pendatun said. He assured that MILF unity remains intact despite the changes in BARMM.
Pendatun called for calm, saying the mixed emotions resulting from the leadership change in BARMM were understandable. “In any case, let’s emulate the demeanor of our outgoing Chief Minister, who remains calm in any situation, because with calmness, we can think more clearly and eventually make the right decisions,” he said.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito Galvez welcomed the leadership change in the region, saying the appointment of Macacua “will further strengthen the leadership foundation” established by Murad in the ongoing BARMM transition period.
LGSF controversy
Pendatun, meanwhile, denied that the change in BARMM leadership was due to allegations of misuse of the P6.4-billion Local Government Support Fund of the regional government.
“No, not at all. In fact, this had already been discussed. There have been side meetings, a series of consultations and formal meetings. However, we cannot delve into the specifics because, for one, I am not privy to the conversation. And no, it has no relation to that,” he said.
The alleged misuse of funds has led to calls for a congressional inquiry. The allegation centered on a scheme, allegedly rampant in Lanao del Sur, in which individuals claiming to represent BARMM pressured village officials to withdraw most of the funds, leaving only P200,000 for unspecified “special operations.”
It was also alleged that most of the funds were allocated solely to UBJP allies and were not fairly distributed.
BARMM promised to conduct an independent investigation into the matter, but there has been no update on whether it has begun or provided any developments to the public.
Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong congratulated Macacua but called on him to ensure the fair and responsible use of BARMM funds.
“Despite the challenges, we hope that under your leadership the proper, fair and responsible use of funds will be a primary objective, so that every citizen can experience genuine change and progress,” Adiong said.
He added, “Under your leadership, may you continue to uphold and enrich the spirit of moral governance – a governance rooted in integrity, transparency and compassion for the welfare of every Bangsamoro. We pray for your firm resolve and wise guidance in strengthening the bureaucracy towards more effective and equitable public service.” – Rappler.com