COTABATO CITY โ Thousands of well-wishers filled the 32-hectare Bangsamoro government capitol on Thursday to witness the formal assumption of Abdulrauf Abdul Macacua as the new chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The event, held in an uptown area of this city, marked a significant transition in the region’s leadership.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed Macacua, the chief of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) two weeks ago, replacing Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, chairman of the MILFโs central committee.
Diverse Support for the New Chief Minister
Security officials and local leaders estimated that more than 8,000 people attended the gathering, including MILF members, local government officials, and representatives from Christian and indigenous non-Moro communities.
Many came from the adjoining provinces of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, reflecting the broad interest in BARMMโs leadership transition.
A large contingent from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which has been working alongside the MILF in governing BARMM, was also present. Their attendance underscored the unity between the two former revolutionary groups in managing the autonomous region.
Before his appointment as BARMM chief minister, Macacua served as the acting governor of the newly created Maguindanao del Norte province. His leadership now extends over BARMMโs five provinces and three cities, a responsibility that comes with significant challenges.
Challenges and Commitments Moving Forward
MNLF chairman Muslimin Gampong Sema, who also serves as Bangsamoro labor and employment minister, expressed strong support for Macacuaโs leadership.
โThe new chief minister of the Bangsamoro region is facing a magnitude of challenges related to regional governance. We are sincerely committed to helping him overcome that. We are a team,โ Sema said.
He also emphasized confidence that Macacua will continue the MILF-MNLF collaboration in strengthening peace and sustainable development across the region.
A Legacy of Peace Agreements
The MNLF signed a final peace agreement with the national government in 1996, ending its armed struggle for self-governance in Moro territories.
The MILF, to which both Macacua and Ebrahim belong, reached the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014 after 22 years of negotiations. This accord led to the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with BARMM in 2019, granting the region greater administrative and political autonomy.
As Macacua steps into his role, he inherits both the successes and ongoing challenges of the Bangsamoro government, with the expectations of its people resting on his leadership.
