NEWS
18March
Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front at the Consultative Assembly in the MILF’s Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Sunday, 16 March 2025. Photo courtesy of the MILF
MILF Consultative Assembly draws 500 political, military, religious leaders
- Mar 18, 2025
- AL ISKANDAR, LUWARAN
- HITS: 847
The MILF in a statement said, “it is for the best interest of all that the leadership of the MILF is consulted and its decision be respected on matters of paramount importance to the Bangsamoro.”
“It does not help that the National Government unilaterally decided to appoint a new interim Chief Minister (ICM) despite the repeated sentiments of the MILF Central Committee, issued through various resolutions, to retain the then sitting ICM,” the statement said as quoted by Mindanews Sunday.
The statement said that the decision should have taken into consideration the MILF’s position based on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). It said the Bangsamoro Organic Law specifically states that the BTA shall be “MILF-led.” The MILF list had Ebrahim as the number 1 nominee, specifically for the position of ICM.
Ebrahim, MILF chair since Salamat Hashim’s death in 2003, served as ICM since 2019.
He was replaced by Maguindanao del Norte OIC Governor Abdulraof Macacua, concurrent Chief of Staff of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.
According to the Mindanews report, the Assembly’s inputs highlighted the MILF’s Central Committee’s grievances concerning presidential appointments to the BTA, claiming the national government failed to adhere strictly to the MILF’s submitted list of 41 nominees.
The MILF asserts this deviation constitutes “interference” in their internal affairs and directly undermines the autonomy principle enshrined in the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
“Now more than ever, we must work together to protect the integrity of the peace process and the future of the Bangsamoro,” it said.
The first regional election was reset to May 2025 but the election was again postponed to October 13, 2025. The first set of elected officials of the Bangsamoro Parliament will take their oath of office on October 30, 2025, Mindanews said.
Time in Cotabato
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