DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 09 March) – The appointment of OIC Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Abdul Macacua as the new interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), replacing Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on March 3. However, confirmation of the leadership change only came six days later, on Sunday, March 9, with no formal announcement from Malacañang. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed Macacua’s appointment in an interview with the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism but provided no further details. Ebrahim had served as interim Chief Minister from February 2019 to March 2025. The change in leadership has surprised many, especially as it comes just seven months before the first BARMM parliamentary elections in October. MindaNews sources revealed that at least three earlier attempts to replace Ebrahim with Macacua had been made since Marcos assumed the presidency in 2022, with this being the fourth. It remains unclear whether Macacua was reappointed as a Member of Parliament (MP) before being named Chief Minister, a position that requires parliamentary membership. Macacua previously served as MP from February 2019 until his appointment as OIC Governor of Maguindanao del Norte in April 2023, with his son, Jamel, filling his vacated seat. In the MILF, Ebrahim serves as chair while Macacua is Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). The MILF signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government on March 27, 2014. When BARMM was established in 2019, then-President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to oversee the region during its three-year transition period, initially set to end on June 30, 2022, but later extended to June 30, 2025, and now to October 30, 2025. Among the BTA appointees were Ebrahim and Macacua, with Ebrahim named interim Chief Minister and Macacua appointed Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, later becoming Senior Minister. President Marcos Jr. reappointed BTA members in August 2022, retaining Ebrahim as Chief Minister. Republic Act 12123, which reset the BARMM parliamentary elections to October 13, stipulates that incumbent BTA members shall continue to serve until their successors are elected, unless replaced by the President or their tenure is shortened by election to a different position. The date for Macacua’s oath-taking and the leadership turnover remains unannounced. As of Sunday, no statements had been issued by Ebrahim, Macacua, or BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, who also chairs the MILF Peace Implementing Panel. Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez welcomed the leadership change, stating that the transition from Ebrahim to Macacua “comes at a crucial time” as preparations for the BARMM elections in October 2025 are underway. The first election of the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament has been postponed twice, from May 2022 to October 2025. When asked about the reasons for the leadership change, Galvez declined to comment, citing lack of authority to discuss political decisions. He expressed confidence in Macacua’s ability to strengthen the leadership foundation established by Ebrahim and thanked Ebrahim for his contributions to the Bangsamoro peace process. Basilan Governor Jim Hataman was the first BARMM governor to issue a statement, pledging full support for Macacua’s administration and emphasizing the region’s journey toward peace and self-governance. Former Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita ‘Ging’ Deles, however, described the leadership change as a “heavy-handed” move that could destabilize the region ahead of the elections. She also expressed concern over the possible implications for autonomy and peace process milestones. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker Omar Crisostomo Sema expressed confidence that the leadership change would optimize the transition period, particularly concerning decommissioning efforts. Guiamel Alim of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) Council of Elders questioned the timing and potential impact of the change, expressing hope that BARMM would not become “another failed experiment.” He emphasized the complexities of implementing peace agreements and called for unity and stability during this critical period.
