Ebrahim vows to continue pushing for Bangsamoro reforms, development

COTABATO CITY – Former Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim chief minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim has vowed to continue advancing genuine reforms, moral governance, peace, and meaningful development for the Bangsamoro people.

Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and MP Mohagher Iqbal, MILF vice chairman, failed to get an elected position in the parliament during its inaugural session on Oct. 30.

Ebrahim, president of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the MILF’s political party, was nominated to be the chief minister of the 80-member first regular parliament but lost to his former military chief, Abdulraof Macacua.

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Neither Ebrahim nor Iqbal were elected as deputy minister or earned committee chairmanships during the election of officers at the inaugural session.

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Still, Ebrahim said he, the MILF and the UBJP remained “steadfast and committed to advancing genuine reforms, moral governance, peace, and meaningful development for the Bangsamoro people.”

“There is still much work to be done, and we continue to encourage every Bangsamoro to unite, participate, and take an active role in building a more prosperous, peaceful, stable, and stronger Bangsamoro,” Ebrahim said in a statement on Saturday.

On behalf of the MILF and the UBJP, he expressed gratitude to the Bangsamoro people for the “continued trust, support, and solidarity in pursuing our shared aspirations.”

After his defeat and the election of Macacua as the first minister of the elected Bangsamoro Parliament, Ebrahim stood and walked toward the seat of Macacua, congratulated and hugged him.

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A crack in the MILF ranks emerged earlier involving the top leaders of the movement – Ebrahim, Iqbal, and Macacua –after the latter was named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a replacement to Ebrahim in 2025.

The MILF central committee accused Macacua of insubordination when he accepted the interim minister’s post without consulting the central committee.

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The MILF leadership eventually removed Macacua as chief of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF military wing, after Macacua relieved Iqbal as education minister due to alleged fund irregularities.

Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento praised Ebrahim for demonstrating a “spirit of statesmanship.”

“Today, as the Bangsamoro enters a new chapter with the election of its Chief Minister and Parliament Speaker, I wish to recognize MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for demonstrating the spirit of statesmanship I had hoped to see, placing the greater interest of the Bangsamoro above political differences,” Sarmiento said in a Facebook post.

Sarmiento said Ebrahim’s lifelong advocacy for peace and meaningful self-governance showed that autonomy “is not merely about political power, but about empowering people, unlocking economic opportunities, and realizing the Bangsamoro’s fullest potential.”

“Leadership is not measured by the power one holds, but by the future one helps secure for the people,” he said.

Sarmiento urged all Bangsamoro leaders to work together “to transform the hard-earned gains of peace into lasting prosperity.”

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“The success of the Bangsamoro is the success of the Philippines,” Sarmiento said.