Changes to BARMM interim body appointees urged
COTABATO CITY—The central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is asking President Marcos to rectify the appointments to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which the group claims have undermined its “institutional leadership” and disrupted the agreed transition framework of the peace process.
Among the BTA appointments questioned by the MILF was that of current Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who was appointed by Mr. Marcos in March last year to replace Ahod Ebrahim, MILF chair, who had been endorsed to the post by the MILF central committee.
BTA is the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM.
Aside from Macacua, the MILF central committee, in its latest manifesto issued during the Maguindanao del Norte provincial assembly at Cotabato State University here on Feb. 14, also questioned the appointment of six non-MILF members to the BTA without prior consultation with the MILF central committee, as provided under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
In the manifesto, the MILF central committee expressed concern over the removal of Ebrahim as Bangsamoro interim chief minister and his replacement by Macacua.
The President appointed Macacua as the second interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro on March 3 last year, replacing Ebrahim. Macacua was expected to serve until the first regular 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election, which was postponed from May to October 2025 and later reset to March 30 this year.
Non-MILF members
The MILF also claimed that Malacañang disregarded the 41 BTA slots allotted to the group as the President, following the March 2025 reshuffle, appointed only 35 of the former rebel group’s 41 endorsed nominees to the 80-member body.
Instead, six non-MILF members were appointed to the BTA, which the group said violated the CAB provision allocating 41 seats to the MILF.
“We call upon the national leadership to uphold the letter and spirit of the peace agreement, the CAB and BOL,” the MILF said in its manifesto.
It added: “We call for the immediate rectification of the BTA appointments to ensure full compliance with the peace agreement and the BOL and to preserve the legitimate leadership role of the MILF.”
The MILF expressed concern that the appointment of individuals not included in its official list—including Macacua—violated the BOL and CAB, which mandate an “MILF-led” transition.
The central committee described the appointment of individuals not endorsed by the group as “meddling in the internal affairs of the MILF.”
The MILF also said in the manifesto that Malacañang’s action “undermined institutional leadership, disrupted the agreed transition framework and risked destabilizing the region.”
The group held a similar gathering in Pikit, Cotabato province, on Sunday, where the manifesto was also read.
A general assembly of MILF leaders is scheduled at the Camp Darapanan gymnasium in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Monday, Feb. 16.
It was unclear whether Macacua, who also serves as MILF chief of staff, was invited to the assembly in Cotabato City.
While the MILF was holding its assembly in Cotabato City, Macacua was in Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur, attending the “Istiqbal Ramadhan Kareem 2026” (Welcoming Ramadan), a gathering hosted by Gov. Datu Ali Midtimbang that focused on spiritual, emotional and physical preparation for the holy fasting month.
During the event, Macacua said he would remove some BARMM officials from their posts for allegedly spreading lies against him and his leadership.
He said he was withholding action for now because Ramadan was approaching.
“If I am not removed as interim chief minister after Ramadan, I will remove some BARMM officials,” Macacua said, without naming anyone.
Efforts to reach Macacua for comment failed. It was also unclear whether he would attend the general assembly at Camp Darapanan on Monday.
