A former rebel leader, Abdulraof Macacua, was elected chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Friday, marking a key development in the governance of the southern Philippines region that emerged from decades of armed conflict. The 69-year-old Macacua secured 51 votes from the 80-seat regional parliament during its inaugural session, held more than a month after the September regional elections. His main competitor, Murad Ebrahim, a former commander in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Macacua’s prior superior, received 27 votes. One representative abstained from voting, and another was absent due to illness.
Macacua’s election comes after the parliamentary polls in which his political group failed to secure a majority, winning fewer than the 41 seats needed for a simple majority in the assembly. The region’s first elected parliament convened for the first time Friday, setting the stage for a new chapter in BARMM’s political leadership.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose father fought Islamist insurgents in the southern Philippines beginning in the early 1970s, was the guest of honor at the opening session. Speaking to the assembly, Marcos emphasized the significance of the peaceful electoral process and the responsibility of the new regional government to foster stability. He highlighted the need for the leadership to ensure “that the dividends of peace are felt in the daily lives of every Bangsamoro family.”
Before the election, Macacua had served as BARMM’s interim chief minister, a position he was appointed to by Marcos despite opposition from the MILF’s senior leadership. Once allies during the armed struggle, Macacua and Ebrahim’s political paths diverged following the appointment, leading to their rivalry in the recent parliamentary vote.
Despite the establishment of a self-governing regional parliament and the election of a new leadership, BARMM remains the poorest region in the Philippines, with the lowest literacy rates nationwide according to official data. The regional government continues to rely heavily on financial support from the central government in Manila. The Philippine government’s proposed budget for 2027 includes more than 115 billion pesos (approximately $1.8 billion) in bulk cash transfers to support the region’s administration and development programs.
The election and peaceful transfer of leadership in BARMM represent a significant milestone in the region’s ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and autonomy after decades of insurgency and political instability. However, challenges remain as the new government seeks to address deep-seated economic and social issues in the region.