Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Abdullah “Commander Bravo” Macapaar dismissed talks of “factionalism” within the former rebel group following a leadership change in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“Hindi po kami magre-react kasi dahil sila po ang aming mga leader. Sila na po ang bahala mag-usap, ang ating gobyerno ng ating Republika ng Pilipinas,” said Macapaar, a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim parliamentary government of the BARMM.

(We will not react because they are our leaders. It is up to them to talk, our government of the Republic of the Philippines.)

A video of Macapaar responding to questions fielded by Samira Gutoc, a civil society advocate and former BTA member, at an unidentified airport circulated on Monday morning, March 10. It was a day after the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) reported the appointment of Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abdulraof Macacua as the new interim chief minister of the BARMM.

Macacua, also the chief of staff of the MILF’s armed unit, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), is replacing MILF chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, who has led the BARMM since its creation in 2019.

As of this writing, Macacua has yet to take his oath and assume office.

“So hindi yan disunited, sir? Yung iba kasi natakot baka magamit yung ‘factionalism’ na yan. So there is none (So it’s not disunited, sir? Because others were afraid that this ‘factionalism’ can be taken advantage of. So there is none)?” Gutoc asked.

“No,” Macapaar said, shaking his head.

Bangsamoro government spokesperson Mohd Asnin Pendatun said that MILF leaders are not “disunited” but are actually feeling “positive” about the change in leadership after a meeting on Sunday.

“Actually yesterday, the MILF Central Committee had a meeting at Camp Darapanan. They discussed the ways forward with this development. But the meeting ended on a positive note. Everyone is happy. Everything is okay,” Pendatun said in an interview with a local radio station on March 10.

The Bangsamoro government also confirmed Macacua’s new post on Monday and “welcomed” fresh appointments in the BTA. They also thanked Ebrahim for his leadership.

“With this development, outgoing Chief Minister Ebrahim is able to focus on the first parliamentary elections this October, both as chairman of the MILF and president of the organization’s political party,” the statement said.

Marcos also appointed new members to the BTA. Ebrahim will reportedly remain as a member of the parliament although his name was not yet included in the incomplete list of BTA members published by the Presidential Communications Office.

They will serve in the transition government until members of the BARMM parliament are elected in October.

The PCIJ report on Macacua’s appointment was published on the day MILF leaders gathered at the MILF headquarters in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Del Norte.

Talk about Macacua’s appointment began circulating in the middle of last week. The PCIJ report on Sunday carried confirmation from Malacañang. Shortly after the report, governors of BARMM provinces released statements congratulating Macacua.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed his appointment papers on March 3.

Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao, who belongs to the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), said Malacañang’s decision was “accepted” by the MILF Central Committee.

“Sana yung mga haka-haka, mga usap-usapan na hindi naman nakakatulong sa sitwayson ay matigil na dahil ang Central Committee ay nagkasundo, nagkaisa and tinanggap nila yung naging desisyon ng Malacañang,” Matabalao said in an interview with local media on Monday, March 10.

(I hope that the speculations, the rumors that do not help the situation will stop because the Central Committee has agreed, united and accepted the decision of Malacañang.) 

“At ang importante dito ang BARMM ay still MILF-led hanggang magkaroon ng regular elections sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region,” he added.

(The important thing here is that the BARMM is still MILF-led until the regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.)

The president signed last month Republic Act 12123 which postponed the regional polls from May to October 2025. It gave way for the term extension of the interim Parliament and the current shakeup of its members.

During deliberations on the law, BARMM officials said that a holdover term would be best for the Bangsamoro amid the extension of their term and rescheduling of the elections in October.

The Bangsamoro government assured a “smooth” transition of governance. “We assure the people of a smooth leadership change, one that will not disrupt the operations of the Bangsamoro Government, nor hinder our commitment to continued delivery of services and programs” it said. — PCIJ.org