It’s Macacua: BARMM Parliament picks region’s first elected chief minister

COTABATO, Philippines – Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua was elected chief minister of the Bangsamoro region on Friday, October 30, securing a majority vote in the newly constituted parliament and ending seven years of transition governance.

Macacua won 51 votes in the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament, defeating former interim chief minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

Ebrahim got 27 votes, one member of parliament abstained, and another was absent during Friday’s session.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was present for the first half of the inaugural session. Marcos gave an address before the voting for the chief minister began.

The President said the day was a victory for Bangsamoro, Mindanao, and “the entire Filipino nation.” He expressed optimism about the coalition established before the first session.

“I do not want to preempt the formal proceedings of parliament, but I am glad to see that the majority has already been established,” said Marcos. “And that the leaders of this parliament have already been agreed upon.”

After his address, Marcos shook Macacua’s hand and talked briefly before leaving the session hall.

Macacua’s election marks the transition from an appointed interim authority to a regular regional government following parliamentary elections on September 14.

Macacua, who represents the 3rd parliamentary district of Maguindanao del Norte under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), previously served as interim chief minister and before that, acting provincial governor. He had also served as a senior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He was a prominent MILF leader and chief of staff of its armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.

Macacua was formerly a leading member of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the political arm of the MILF, but later broke with its leadership after he was appointed interim chief minister, replacing Ebrahim.

He subsequently led the months-old Bangsamoro Federalist Party.

Ebrahim or Murad led the Bangsamoro transition government when the autonomous region was established in 2019 until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. replaced him as interim chief minister.

The BARMM Parliament also elected Amer Zaakaria Rakim as speaker, also securing 51 votes like Macacua.

Another nominee, former interim speaker Mohammad Yacob from Maguindanao del Sur, got 27 votes like Murad.

Rakim, a lawyer and an Adiong from Lanao del Sur, would lead the first elected BARMM legislature that would exercise regional lawmaking and oversight powers, and approve budgets.

Friday’s election followed the dissolution of the unelected Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which had overseen the region’s legislative groundwork and the passage of key codes on education, local governance and elections.

The transition stems from the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which established the autonomous region under a peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

The 80 regular members of parliament, representing geographic districts, political parties and marginalized sectors, formally assumed their legislative and executive responsibilities from the interim BTA.

Under the region’s parliamentary system, a member of parliament can be nominated for chief minister and must secure an absolute majority of the 80-member chamber.

The inauguration was attended by national government officials, provincial governors, mayors, district representatives, peace advocates, international observers and foreign diplomats.

Macacua is expected to assemble his Cabinet, including deputy chief ministers whose appointments require parliamentary approval.

Authorities enforced heightened security in Cotabato City ahead of the inaugural session. The police and military deployed troops to strategic locations and entry points to ensure peace and order.

The heightened security, however, disrupted local businesses and drew criticism from vendors and residents concerned about restricted movement and lost income. – with reports from Iya Gozum/Rappler.com