First elected Bangsamoro Parliament installs Macacua as Chief Minister

COTABATO CITY — Marking a historic milestone in the Bangsamoro peace process, the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament formally chose Abdulraof "Sammy Gambar" Macacua as Chief Minister during its inaugural session at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex on Friday, October 30.

Macacua secured 51 votes to assume the parliamentary leadership, succeeding Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Ahod "Al Haj Murad" Ebrahim, who garnered 27 votes in the democratic exercise. One of the 79 members present abstained.

Macacua, heading the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), was nominated by Member of Parliament (MP) Kitem Kadatuan. Chairman Ebrahim, representing the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP)—the MILF’s political vehicle—was nominated by MP Mohagher Iqbal. As mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law, securing the Chief Minister post requires a majority vote of all 80 parliament members, or at least 41 votes.

The parliamentary vote reflected dynamic realignments within the chamber. Ebrahim did not secure the votes of four UBJP district representatives—Tawakal Midtimbang of Maguindanao del Sur's 1st District, alongside Hamza Gauraki, Lampa Pandi, and Ahmad Amir "Arrie" Balindong of Lanao del Sur. However, Chairman Ebrahim gained the support of MP Ali Sangki of the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC).

The same voting alignment decided the race for Speaker. MP Amer Zaakaria Rakim, the BGC's second nominee, was elected with 51 votes, succeeding outgoing Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Speaker Mohammad Shuaib Yacob of the UBJP, who received 27 votes.

Chief Minister Macacua is a stalwart of the Bangsamoro struggle, having served as the Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). He served as Senior Minister under Chairman Ebrahim's transitional administration and as acting governor of Maguindanao del Norte before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him as interim Chief Minister in March 2025.

After taking his oath before Bangsamoro Wali Sheikh Muslim Guiamaden, Macacua took the rostrum from temporary presiding officer MP Ishak Mastura to oversee the election of the Speaker.

President Marcos Jr. graced the session in person to reaffirm the national government's unwavering commitment to the region, noting that the success of the Bangsamoro is the success of the entire country. The President paid tribute to the martyrs of the Bangsamoro struggle and honored the leaders whose sacrifices paved the way for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the creation of the autonomous government.

"Brothers and sisters, I come before you as your president and a man of a different faith. We may call upon God in different ways, yet we all ask for the same mercy, the same peace, and the same strength to do what is right," Marcos stated, urging the Parliament to govern with unity, transparency, and humility.

The inaugural session opened with Wali Guiamaden striking the gong. Director Jaime Ayub of the Parliament's Secretariat presided over the initial election of Mastura as temporary presiding officer following a motion by MP Naguib Sinarimbo. The newly elected members will serve their mandate until June 30, 2031.