Macacua: I am trying to unite Bangsamoro, others want it divided

COTABATO CITY -- Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua issued a plea for regional unity, labeling a recent Supreme Court petition to remove him and six other officials as a threat to the region's peace process.

The petition, filed as a mandamus case, challenges the continued tenure of seven members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

While the court has yet to rule on the filing, Macacua framed the legal challenge as a calculated attempt to fracture the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ahead of landmark elections.

“I am trying to unite the entire Bangsamoro, others want it divided,” Macacua said.

The Chief Minister called for an investigation into the individuals behind the petition. He said the inquiry is not intended to stifle dissent but to determine if there are active efforts to derail the transition.

The legal friction comes at a sensitive time for the regional government. Congress is currently weighing proposals to hold the first regular BARMM parliamentary elections in September 2026. Macacua warned that destabilizing the BTA now could shake public confidence and undermine preparations for that vote.

“We are at a defining moment,” Macacua said. “The Bangsamoro people have waited decades for peace, for genuine self-governance, for a future free from conflict. We cannot allow division to reverse what has already been built.”

Macacua acknowledged that the Supreme Court will ultimately decide the merits of the case. However, he urged stakeholders to consider the broader impact of political infighting on the peace agreement between the national government and Moro fronts.

The transition government remains focused on its mandate to strengthen regional institutions before the 2026 elections, Macacua said, adding that the peace process must be "guided by collective resolve" rather than internal discord.