COTABATO CITY โ A new chapter in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) unfolded on Thursday, March 27, as Abdulraof Abdul Macacua officially took the helm as the regionโs chief minister in a ceremony attended by representatives from various sectors.
The transition took place at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex within BARMMโs 32-hectare compound in Cotabato City, where Macacua also took his oath as the head of the regionโs 80-seat parliament.
In his speech, Macacua expressed deep respect and appreciation for his predecessor, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), crediting him for nearly six years of dedicated leadership in laying the foundations of the autonomous government.
Macacua, who leads the MILFโs Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, now takes on the responsibility of steering BARMM forward.
Ebrahim, appointed as BARMMโs first chief minister in 2019 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, officially passed the torch to Macacua following a designation signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this month. Representing Ebrahim in the turnover ceremony was Abunawas Maslamama, BARMMโs senior minister.
As he assumes leadership, Macacua pledged to focus on delivering extensive public service initiatives that will uplift not only the Moro people but also the Christian and indigenous non-Moro communities across BARMMโs core territories.
BARMM encompasses the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi, along with the cities of Lamitan, Marawi, and Cotabato. With Macacua now at the helm, the region looks ahead to the next phase of its journey toward lasting peace, development, and inclusive governance.
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