DAVAO, Philippines – Forty-six members of the newly elected Bangsamoro Parliament signed a coalition agreement, giving interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua the backing of a majority ahead of the October 30 vote to choose the leader of the Muslim-majority region.

The coalition has more than the 41 votes needed for a majority in the 80-member Parliament, putting Macacua in a strong position to secure the top post, said Naguib Sinarimbo, a former Bangsamoro interior minister who was elected to represent a Cotabato City parliamentary district in September.

“We have more than the simple majority needed,” Sinarimbo told Rappler on Friday, October 16, adding that this ensures that Macacua would become the first elected chief minister of the seven-year-old Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Macacua, former commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s armed wing, is vying for the position against his former leader, Ahod “Al Haj” Murad Ebrahim, a former interim chief minister and the MILF’s chairman.

Macacua is backed by the months-old Bangsamoro Federalist Party, while Murad is supported by the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party. The two parties finished in a statistical tie in the September 14 parliamentary elections, with Macacua’s party winning 31 seats against 30 for the UBJP.

The remaining seats went to other political parties and sectoral representatives.

The newly elected Parliament is scheduled to convene for the first time on October 30, when its members will choose the first elected chief minister of the BARMM.

Coalition hailed by Marcos

On Thursday, October 15, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the announcement of a 46-member majority coalition in the BARMM Parliament even as he reaffirmed the national government’s respect for the region’s autonomy.

In a statement, Marcos called the first-ever BARMM parliamentary elections in September as a “historic milestone” in the region’s pursuit of self-governance and lasting peace.

He said the national government recognizes the coalition’s formation and its intention to constitute the regional government through parliamentary processes, adding that it respected Parliament’s authority to choose its leadership under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Marcos said the national government was looking forward to working with the government formed by Parliament to promote peace, stability and inclusive development.

Macacua announced the signing of the coalition agreement during a gathering of newly elected parliament members in Davao City on Wednesday, October 14, even as he emphasized the need for unity to build a free, effective and stable Bangsamoro government. He also called on other groups and parties to respect the members’ decision.

The Macacua-led BFP spearheaded the coalition, which includes representatives of political parties, local governments, ethnolinguistic groups and former revolutionary organizations in BARMM.

Macacua said the formation of the “Government of the Day” would center on the selection and election of the chief minister.

“We will reach out our hands, we will heal divisions, and we will build a government that serves everyone,” Macacua said as he thanked those who joined the coalition for their trust, as well as the national government for respecting BARMM’s autonomy.

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., secretary-general of the Bangsamoro Grand Coalition (BGC), said the alliance aimed to sustain the peace process and achieve lasting peace in BARMM.

Adiong said the group had asked Marcos in Malacañang to continue the decommissioning program before the end of his term, with the aim of securing a final exit agreement between the MILF and the national government.

He said the BGC was open to dialogue with other parties, including the UBJP and the BFP, to advance Marcos’ call for unity in the region’s leadership.

“Who wouldn’t want peace? We all aspire for that, which is why we have an autonomous region for Muslims. So hopefully, lasting peace will be achieved,” Adiong said.

Planning for the first 100 days

Coalition leaders also held a strategic planning workshop in Davao City to set legislative and executive priorities for the regular parliament’s first 100 days and five years. Some UBJP members came to participate.

BARMM Interior Minister Jordan Bayam said the elected parliament faces higher expectations than the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

“This time, this is not just a BTA, but this is an elected parliament. So the task and the expectations of our people is so high,” Bayam said, stressing the need for unity around a common agenda.

Lampa Pandi, a parliament member-elect representing Lanao del Sur’s fourth district under the UBJP, said he attended to support a long-term direction for the region beyond partisan politics.

“I am not playing politics here, it’s more of the direction of the parliament where we aim to unite for the good of Bangsamoro,” Pandi said. He was joined by Tawakal Midting, who won in Maguindanao del Sur’s first parliamentary district. – Rappler.com