The suspension was formalized through Resolution No. 01, Series of 2026, adopted during a Regular Meeting of the Central Committee held in Davao City on June 3, 2026, and signed by MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. The Central Committee issued a formal press statement on June 5 publicly confirming the resolution.

Engr. Mohajirin Ali, MILF Central Committee's information chief, separately confirmed the resolution as an authentic and binding official act of the Central Committee.

By virtue of the resolution, Ebrahim, as Commander-in-Chief of the BIAF-MILF, shall concurrently assume the position of Chief of Staff for the time being.

Central Committee: Suspension is an act of accountability

In its press statement, the Central Committee emphasized that the suspension was undertaken in the interest of accountability and to uphold the military hierarchy of the BIAF — not as a personal matter, but as an institutional imperative.

"This action was taken pursuant to the authority vested in the Central Committee and after careful consideration of matters brought before the MILF leadership," the statement read. "The resolution reflects the Central Committee's commitment to preserving the integrity of the organization, maintaining discipline within its ranks, and ensuring adherence to the principles, policies, and decisions of the MILF."

The Central Committee called upon all commanders, officers, members, and supporters of the MILF and the BIAF to respect and uphold the resolution, maintain unity and discipline, and continue performing their respective duties in accordance with the directives of the leadership.

"The MILF remains steadfast in its commitment to the Bangsamoro cause, the gains of the peace process, and the welfare of the Bangsamoro people," the statement added.

The Central Committee likewise urged the public, media organizations, and all concerned parties to rely only on official MILF communications and to refrain from spreading unverified information that may undermine organizational cohesion and the interests of the Bangsamoro people.

Grounds for suspension: A pattern of defiance

The resolution enumerated a series of acts by Macacua that the Central Committee found inconsistent with his obligations as BIAF Chief of Staff and as a member of the MILF.

The committee traced the root of the rupture to March 3, 2025, when the Government of the Philippines replaced Ebrahim as BARMM Interim Chief Minister with Macacua — without prior consultation with the MILF Central Committee. The resolution described the move as unceremonious and as having threatened the unity of the organization. It further noted that several MILF nominees from an agreed list of 41 names were not appointed, replaced instead by individuals nominated by Macacua himself.

Since assuming office as Interim Chief Minister, the resolution said, Macacua had removed or attempted to remove MILF officials and affiliates from key BARMM positions, despite repeated requests from the Central Committee to retain them.

The situation came to a head when the Central Committee issued Memorandum Order No. 09, Series of 2026, dated May 17, 2026 — signed by Ebrahim and addressed directly to Macacua — reminding him that as Interim Chief Minister, decisions on appointments, transfers, and removals of key MILF officials require mandatory consultation with the MILF as lead in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and Article XVI, Section 2 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

"Please be reminded that as Interim Chief Minister, this decision is not solely yours to make," the memorandum stated. "As lead in the transition period, the MILF Central Committee wished to discuss this matter with you in the spirit of genuine dialogue and shura (consultation)."

Despite receipt of the memorandum, Macacua proceeded to carry out the removal of Mohagher Iqbal, 1st Vice Chairman of the MILF, as Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) — an act the Central Committee described as the final breach.

The resolution also cited Macacua's refusal to carry the banner of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) — the MILF's official regional parliamentary political party — despite having been issued a Certificate of Candidacy as district representative for the 3rd district of Maguindanao del Norte under UBJP. Macacua instead unilaterally decided to run as an independent candidate without consulting MILF leadership.

Islamic and organizational grounding

The Central Committee anchored the resolution in Islamic authority, citing Surah An-Nisa (4:59) — commanding obedience to Allah, the Messenger, and those in authority — and Surah Aal 'Imran (3:103), enjoining the believers to hold firmly together and not become divided. It also cited Surah Al-Anfal (8:46), which warns that internal dispute leads to the loss of collective strength.

The resolution likewise invoked the legacy of the late MILF founder Chairman Salamat Hashim, who emphasized that a Mujahid must possess unwavering discipline, sincerity, obedience to legitimate leadership, and steadfastness to the collective cause, while warning against personal ambition and factionalism.

Institutionally, the suspension was grounded in BIAF General Order No. 1, specifically Article 34, which requires all BIAF officers, commanders, and members to be subservient to Central Committee policies and to observe command responsibility at all times.

All MILF structures, committees, field commands, and affiliated bodies have been directed to recognize and implement the resolution and to refrain from acknowledging any act or representation made by Macacua in the name of the BIAF-MILF.

Macacua responds: 'Paninindigan natin ang ating decision'

In a Facebook post on Friday, Macacua acknowledged the two grounds cited in the resolution but contested both, signaling his intention to stand by his decisions.

On his independent candidacy, Macacua said the move was deliberate — arguing that running without a party affiliation allowed him to govern impartially as chief minister over all Bangsamoro constituents across party lines.

"Sinadya kong mag-independent candidate dahil matagal pa ang election, kailangan patas pa rin ang aking pamumuno sa lahat ng Bangsamoro as Chief Minister. Umiiwas ako na maging bias sa ibang Bangsamoro na nakakalat sa iba't ibang partido," he wrote.

He also denied having received a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance from the UBJP, invoking divine witness to his denial. "Wala akong natanggap na ganun. So Allah i witness tanu," he wrote.

On the removal of Iqbal, Macacua said his full explanation would take more time, asking his followers to wait.

In a striking passage, Macacua said he was not entirely displeased with the suspension, noting that simultaneously holding the chief ministership of a regional government and the chief of staff position of a military organization had been an exceptionally difficult burden.

He urged his remaining supporters to remain calm and avoid actions that would worsen the situation. "Kailangan mapagmahinahon. Huwag gagawa ng hakbang na lalong magpalala ng situation. Huwag magpadala sa mga taong hindi maganda ang kanilang mga payo," he wrote, warning that there are those who would rejoice in Bangsamoro disunity.

In a final gesture, Macacua offered to serve as a volunteer chief of staff to Chairman Ebrahim to chase corrupt officials within the BARMM — a remark widely seen as a pointed political jab.

Peace advocate: Peace process now at a crossroads

Bangsamoro peace advocate Lowell Macabangen, writing on his Facebook page on June 4, said the suspension has gone beyond an internal MILF matter and now directly implicates the integrity of the Bangsamoro peace process.

"The real issue is the preservation of organizational discipline, institutional legitimacy, and the integrity of the Bangsamoro peace process itself," Macabangen wrote.

He called on the national government — particularly the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Security Council — to recognize that there is only one MILF leadership recognized by the organization itself, headed by Chairman Ebrahim, and that any parallel authority outside the MILF Central Committee's recognized structure risks undermining the implementation of the CAB.

Macabangen called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately appoint a permanent chairperson of the GPH Implementing Panel, and urged OPAPRU Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento to initiate direct and formal engagement with the MILF Central Committee to address issues affecting the CAB, normalization, transition governance, and the forthcoming Bangsamoro parliamentary elections through official channels.

"The Bangsamoro peace process has reached a sensitive crossroads. What is needed now is clarity, dialogue, and respect for the institutional mechanisms established under the CAB and the Bangsamoro Organic Law," Macabangen said. "The integrity of the CAB and the unity of the Bangsamoro people must remain our highest priority."