BARMM leadership dispute: MILF rejects Macacua’s appointment

The central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has formally rejected the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua as the new Interim Chief Minister (ICM) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), citing violations of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and concerns over the integrity of the transition process.

In a statement released Sunday following its consultative assembly, attended by MILF key officials, political and military leaders, religious sectors, and Bangsamoro stakeholders, the MILF central committee expressed frustration over what it described as a failure to adhere to the officially endorsed list of nominees for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). The group emphasized that Macacua’s appointment contravenes Section 2, Article XVI of the BOL, which states that the MILF shall lead the BTA while allowing participation from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“Guided by the Consultative Assembly’s inputs and recommendations, the MILF Central Committee learned the agony, growing frustrations, and concerns of the attendees over the recent Presidential appointments in the BTA, which failed to adhere strictly to the officially endorsed list of 41 nominees submitted by the MILF,” the statement read.

The committee noted that only 35 out of the 41 MILF-endorsed nominees were appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a move it described as meddling in the MILF’s internal affairs and a direct erosion of the autonomy principle enshrined in the BOL.

“The appointment of only 35 MILF nominees raises serious concerns about the integrity of the transition period and the commitment of the parties to the peace agreement,” the statement added, stressing the need for the national government to respect the MILF’s leadership decisions on crucial matters concerning the Bangsamoro.

The MILF further stated that the unilateral appointment of a new interim chief minister disregarded multiple resolutions passed by the committee advocating for the retention of the previous ICM. While acknowledging the President’s discretion in making appointments, the committee underscored that such decisions should have considered the MILF’s position and stakeholder concerns.

“The implementation of the peace agreement lies in the symbiotic partnership between the MILF and the national government — a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and strict adherence to both the spirit and the letters of the signed agreements,” the MILF said.

The committee called for unity among the Bangsamoro people and urged them to reject any attempts to create division within the region. It also reaffirmed the support of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF’s primary military arm, for the leadership of MILF chairman and commander-in-chief Al Haj Murad Ebrahim.

Six front commanders, 33 base commanders, and officials from the BIAF General Headquarters reiterated their full confidence in the MILF leadership, reinforcing the organization’s opposition to Macacua’s appointment and its commitment to upholding the peace agreement.