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5October
MILF mourns passing of BTA Speaker Balindong, lauds lifelong service to Bangsamoro
- Oct 5, 2025
- Taher G. Solaiman
- HITS: 859
MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim issued a statement on Thursday extending the organization's heartfelt condolences to the Speaker's family and loved ones, emphasizing the magnitude of the loss to the entire Bangsamoro cause.
"Speaker Balindong’s lifetime of service and sacrifice for peace, justice, and self-determination will remain an enduring source of inspiration as we continue the struggle for the aspirations of our people," Ebrahim said.
A legacy of statesmanship and peace
A veteran lawyer and political figure, Balindong was an integral figure in the decades-long push for Bangsamoro self-governance. He was first elected to lead the BTA Parliament in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022, presiding over the interim lawmaking body of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until his death.
The MILF statement underscored his crucial role as a statesman in the region’s fledgling democratic institutions.
"His wisdom, humility, and unwavering dedication to the Bangsamoro cause have left a profound legacy of service that will forever be remembered," the statement read.
Balindong was widely respected for his ability to "serve as a bridge between generations," guiding the Bangsamoro toward a "future of hope, unity, and progress" by carrying forward the lessons of history.
Honoring a pillar of the struggle
Ebrahim stressed that the Speaker's passing is a "great loss not only to the BTA Parliament but to the entire Bangsamoro struggle."
The MILF Central Committee pledged to honor the late Speaker's memory by remaining true to the principles he championed: protecting the gains of the peace process and striving for genuine peace and development.
Concluding with a prayer, the statement invoked the Islamic phrase for returning to God: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. Indeed, to Allah we belong, and indeed, to Him we shall return.”
Balindong, who was 85, was a distinguished Maranao leader and lawyer who played a pivotal role in the legislative and political foundations of the Bangsamoro autonomous government. He was laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites shortly after his passing.
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