Regional blocs unfazed by BARMM chief’s ouster from MILF

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June 8, 2026 | 12:00am

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Partisan blocs and local executives yesterday expressed their recognition of Abdulrauf Macacua as head of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), even after he was suspended as chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF armed forces.

In a resolution on June 3, the MILF central committee relieved Macacua as chief of its armed forces after he took over the management of the region’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education from Muhaquer Iqbal, a ranking MILF official.

Macacua assumed full control of the ministry on May 19 after the Commission on Audit (COA) reported the alleged misuse of P2.2 billion worth of funds prior to last year’s May 12 general elections.

The MILF leadership, despite the COA findings, had ordered Macacua not to remove Iqbal as regional education minister.

Among the regional parties that expressed support for Macacua were the Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo, Bangsamoro Party of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party.

The three are among more than a dozen political parties the Commission on Elections has allowed to participate in the first BARMM parliamentary election on Sept. 14.

Officials of the three parties separately told reporters yesterday that their continuing recognition of Macacua as BARMM chief minister is meant to sustain regional governance and should not be construed as hostility toward the MILF.

“Regional governance must go on unaffected by these issues. We are for peace and sustainable development in the autonomous region. Never shall we quarrel with the MILF as we support Chief Minister Macacua’s leadership of the autonomous region,” said Muslimin Sema, chairman of the MNLF central committee.

Bangsamoro Federalist Party spokesperson Naguib Sinarimbo ordered all members to refrain from posting counter-productive opinions on social media about the rift.

“That is something very organic to the MILF,” Sinarimbo said.

Basilan Vice Gov. Hadjiman Salliman and Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay have separately announced their continued support for Macacua.