Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim declined his appointment as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Ebrahim had been the chief minister of the BTA since 2019 until Marcos replaced him with Abdulraof Macaua, the chief of staff of MILF’s armed wing, on March 3.
“I take this opportunity to thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for offering me another chance to serve in the Bangsamoro government, this time as a Member of the Parliament. However, I have decided to respectfully decline said appointment,” he said in a statement on March 24.
The former chief minister issued the statement on the same day that newly appointed members of the BTA took their oath before the President in Malacañang. He skipped the evening event.
Ebrahim did not explain why he refused the appointment.
But he said that he will continue to be the chairman of the MILF and its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party. The group is fielding 40 nominees in the first regular BARMM parliamentary election on October 13 with him at the top of the list.
He also congratulated the new chief minister: “Personally known to me as ‘Sammy Gambar,’ ICM (interim chief minister) Macacua brings a wealth of experience to this new role… His leadership and commitment to peace and development in the region are well-documented. I wish him well in his endeavors.”
Marcos’ decision triggered opposing views among Bangsamoro stakeholders.
Many BARMM government officials welcomed Macacua’s appointment. But the MILF Central Committee was frustrated with the president’s decision as they had been pushing for Ebrahim to continue his office until October.
The MILF was also dismayed that only 35 of its nominees were appointed by Marcos, which it said “can be categorized as meddling into the internal affairs of the MILF and directly erodes the principle of autonomy” enunciated in BOL.
Under the region’s charter, the MILF is tasked to lead the BTA. The group vowed to end its decades-long separatist rebellion in exchange for autonomous governance in the region through a 2014 peace deal with the government.
During the oath-taking today, Marcos reminded the newly appointed members to continue their work in building peace in the region. They will serve until new members are elected in October.
They are expected to address issues arising from Sulu’s exclusion from BARMM. The tasks include the reapportionment of the seven parliamentary seats that were previously assigned to Sulu.
“Nakataya ang inyong mga pangalan at ang pag-asa ng ating mga kababayan sa inyong sinumpaang tungkulin. Huwag nating makakalimutan na ang inyong tungkulin ay para sa isang mas makatarungan at mas maunlad na Bangsamoro,” the president said.
(“Your names and the hopes of our countrymen are at stake in your sworn duty. Let us not forget that your duty is for a more just and prosperous Bangsamoro.”)
This is the second oath-taking ceremony of the BTA members. The first one was held in Manila on March 15 with their new chief minister Macacua leading the event. Murad was also absent from the event. — PCIJ.org