Discordant notes in the BARMM (2)
Last week, I mentioned that one discordant note in the metaphorical Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) musical is the weak alignment of the region’s different ministries, offices, and agencies. This prompted regional leaders to call for measures toward meaningful collaboration within it to avoid working apart from each other, stressing that all instrumentalities of the regional government must work together as one, or as they say it, as One Bangsamoro.
But early this month, (March 3, 2025), President Marcos signed the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua, the officer in charge governor of Maguindanao del Norte province, as the new interim chief minister (ICM) of the region. This created shockwaves, something that could be a source of major discord among members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-led interim parliament and the entire regional leadership. It was like a huge off-key tune, turning an otherwise harmonious melody into an earful of jarring sounds that could break not only eardrums but also relationships.
Both government functionaries and local constituents in Cotabato City were quite shocked to learn about this “sudden” development in regional political dynamics. Although some regional officials hinted at a possible major “reshuffle” of regional leadership positions, especially that of the ICM, it was not until last March 9, 2025 that such hushed talks confirmed what was feared—the changing of the guards of the BARMM regional leadership. It was the day Malacañang confirmed Macacua’s appointment as the new ICM.
In a statement released on Sunday, March 16, 2025, following a consultative assembly at their headquarters in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao del Norte, the MILF Central Committee expressed its huge disappointment about the presidential appointment of new BTA members as well as the reappointment of some of them. Among others, the MILF Central Committee expressed its “growing frustrations and concerns” of the appointments, saying this “failed to adhere strictly to the (MILF) officially endorsed list of 41 nominees.” As it stands, only 35 of the individuals on the MILF list were included on the list of new appointments. The statement further noted that “clearly [this act of] non-conformity with the MILF’s list of nominees … can be categorized as meddling into the internal affairs of the MILF and directly erodes the principle of autonomy enunciated in the Bangsamoro organic law (BOL).”
With only 35 MILF members in the newly reorganized BTA, the MILF is no longer the majority group in it, contrary to the provisions of both the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the BOL.
The statement further decried how the national government through Mr. Marcos “unilaterally decided to appoint a new ICM despite the repeated sentiments of the MILF Central Committee.” As they claimed, the MILF had issued various resolutions to retain the then sitting ICM (Ahod B. Ebrahim) but all these were sidelined. The MILF felt this was a direct way of not adhering to the “symbiotic partnership” of trust between them and the national government.
In various social media posts, many BARMM netizens fear that this move was orchestrated by the national government to ensure the victory of Mr. Marcos’ party members who are running for senator. Others question why this happened just seven months away from the extended first parliamentary elections on Oct. 13, 2025. It seems illogical that an ICM is being replaced by another interim one, who will serve for less than seven months before the regular Bangsamoro Parliament will be composed after the October parliamentary elections.
Ironically, all these are occurring in March, the “Bangsamoro History Month” based on Proclamation No. 001 issued by then ICM Ahod B. Ebrahim in March 2021. This commemoration is based on several historic events related to the roots of the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination and the arduous journey toward crafting final peace agreements that led to the creation of the BARMM. Such events include the Jabidah Massacre on March 18, 1968, to the signing of the CAB on March 27, 2014.
As a metaphorical musical, the BARMM faces a serious problem with the change of different players in its orchestra. The resulting jarring sounds that can destroy a harmonious melody have been generated through a presidential act that many regional officials consider “divisive.” Mr. Marcos has assembled new players who could bring with them possible discordant musical notes, as they have not tried to play in sync with each other before. More importantly, the conductor of the orchestra has been changed, without prior rehearsals with both the new and previous members in it.
