‘You have my word, sir’: Macacua’s hat tip to Murad

GESTURE. BARMM chief minister Abdulraof Macacua leans to kiss the temple of MILF chairman Ahod "Al Haj Murad" Ebrahim during the inaugural session of the regular parliament on Friday, October 30.

Photo from Abdulraof Macacua

‘This is my commitment to you, and an amanah I intend to honor,’ Bangsamoro chief minister Abdulraof Macacua tells Ahod Ebrahim in front of members of parliament on October 30

AT A GLANCE

• Abdulraof Macacua was elected as the new Bangsamoro chief minister, defeating his predecessor Ahod 'Al Haj Murad' Ebrahim with 51 votes to 27.
• Despite a rocky history and tensions within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Macacua expressed respect for Murad and committed to continuing the moral governance agenda established by him.

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Abdulraof Macacua, the newly-installed Bangsamoro chief minister, started his term with a deference and a nod to his predecessor, Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim.

The election of the first chief minister in the region’s regular parliament was a battle between Macacua and Murad. The result was as predicted. Macacua garnered 51 votes while Murad got 27 votes.

Near the end of his inaugural address on Friday, October 30, Macacua addressed Murad in front of the 80-member parliament:

“To our chairman in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Honorable Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim. Sir, I want to personally assure you that the moral governance agenda you have started and steadfastly championed will remain at the very heart of my leadership.”

Macacua and Murad’s recent history had been rocky since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. installed Macacua as interim chief minister to replace Murad in 2025. What followed was a widening of rifts within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In the run up to the elections, Macacua ran as an independent and later on became chairman of the newfound Bangsamoro Federalist Party. Macacua’s rivaled the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

And months before the elections, Macacua was suspended as MILF’s military chief for being “inconsistent” with the group’s political line. His moves had upset members and supporters of the MILF, those who remain loyal to Murad’s leadership.

Despite the divergence, Macacua was said to still retain a certain respect to Murad. Macacua, after all, was Murad’s subordinate in the MILF.

But all that is in the past now. It seemed the two have reached an impasse after the violent election and the huge gap between votes. As Macacua leads the new government, the MILF leadership will be at work seeing the peace process with the Philippine government come to its conclusion.

Macacua returned to the work that became the foundation of the regular parliament the region now has today: “I recognize the sacrifices, principles, and aspirations upon which this vision was built, and I consider it both a personal commitment and a moral responsibility to carry it forward, no matter what. You have my word, Sir, that I will remain faithful to this vision, not only in words but in every decision and action of this administration, until the very last day of my mandate.”

He ended his message to Murad with a promise. “This is my commitment to you, and an amanah I intend to honor.”

Early trouble between camps

The inaugural session was a portent of things to come.

Macacua’s message of inclusion followed a heated exchange in the plenary hall.

This started when the majority moved to elect their full list of officers to committee heads.

• Deputy chief ministers: Hadjimar Matba for the southwestern Mindanao subregion and Mamintal Adiong III for the north central Mindanao subregion
• Deputy speakers: Rhosatina Matolo-De Asis, Tawakal Buga Midtimbang, Amilbahar Mawalil, Ibrahim Ibay, Hosni Macapodi, Lampa Pandi, Ahmad Amir Balindong, Suwaib Oranon, Abrar Hataman, and Jose Lorena. 
• Majority floor leader: Johari Abu
• Deputy majority floor leaders: Abdel Razi Amin, Naguib Sinarimbo, Ishak Mastura, Jaafar Matalam, Alindatu Pagayao, Jay Hatman Salliman, Julbert Que, and Tomanda Antok

Member of parliament Mary Ann Arnado, who won as the settler community representative under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, raised concerns in behalf of the minority.

“We would also like to organize the minority by nominating our minority floor leader and our deputies – the deputies of the floor leader,” said member of parliament Mary Ann Arnado. “I hope that the majority will not disagree with that.”

Member of parliament Naguib Sinarimbo defended the majority, who he said was formed by parties and members of parliament who agreed to constitute the government of the day.

“If the government of the day has been constituted, then those who did not join the coalition of the majority cannot insist on representing themselves in the government of the day,” said Sinrimbo.

The first session ended without a minority floor leader being elected, as Arnado and her allies proposed.

Prior to this, the Bangsamoro Federalist Party has claimed support of 46 out of the 80 members in parliament and subsequently forming the majority. Forming a coalition to make a majority had been the primary work of the parties after the September 14 election resulted to a hung parliament. – Rappler.com