MILF suspends BARMM chief minister Macacua as military chief

COTABATO CITY — The central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MIFL) has suspended its military chief indefinitely for defiance and insubordination, starting Thursday.

The suspension was contained in a resolution issued by MILF central committee chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim against Abdulraof Macacua, currently the interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Macacua has been the chief of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) since the 1980s.  BIAF is the military arm of the MILF.

READ: Bangsamoro chief minister to focus on service over politics

The MILF said Macacua failed to comply with certain directives and decisions of the central committee. It also cited his removal of BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal without consulting the committee and his decision to run as an independent candidate in the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections despite initially seeking office under the MILF’s political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

Macacua, who welcomed the decision, said it would allow him to focus on his duties as chief minister.

“In truth, it is difficult to simultaneously serve as chief minister of the government and chief of staff of a military organization,” he said.

He also defended his decision to remove Iqbal, saying, “I will stand by my decision.”

READ: BARMM education minister sacked

Macacua denied receiving a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance from the MILF and said he chose to run as an independent candidate to remain fair to all Bangsamoro constituents.

The dispute reflects growing tensions within the Bangsamoro leadership over party discipline, governance reforms, and political positioning ahead of the region’s first parliamentary elections./coa