New BARMM chief prioritizes reconciliation with MILF

COTABATO CITY—Abdulraof Macacua is the new interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He promises to continue existing government programs and mend relationships with colleagues in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Some members had concerns about his recent appointment. Macacua took over leadership from MILF Chair Ahod Ebrahim. He believes that there is no need to worry about the direction of the government. “We belong to the same boat,” he said. He announced that there will be no major changes in the current Cabinet but plans to evaluate their performance. With elections approaching, Macacua aims to ensure a peaceful process for the midterm elections on May 12 and the first parliamentary elections in October. He has worked with police and military to promote peace in Maguindanao provinces, hoping for reduced violence during the elections. In his first official act, Macacua announced a Ramadan bonus of P10,000 for about 40,000 regional government workers. Currently, 77 out of the 80 seats in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) have been filled, and Macacua expects President Marcos to appoint three more members soon. Macacua acknowledges some division within the MILF regarding his appointment but is hopeful for reconciliation. He and other key leaders met recently to ensure a smooth transition of power and to address any concerns with the President. Though there were issues with the appointment process, Macacua expressed confidence in overcoming these hurdles and fostering unity among MILF members.