DAVAO CITY – Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal blamed prevailing woes in the Bangsamoro region to Malacañang following what they perceived as questionable removal of MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim as interim Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief minister.

Aside from the abrupt change of leadership, the BARMM is negotiating obstacles on the implementation of the normalization track under Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The MILF temporarily suspended the decommissioning of the combatants of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the MILF.

The unilateral suspension came as the MILF claimed that there are still “unfulfilled commitments on the decommissioning aspect of the normalization track that forced the MILF to step the brakes on the fourth and final phase of decommissioning.”

Iqbal said that the current problem confronting the BARMM is caused by the imposed regime change in the region by the national government.

“In March 2025, two months away from the mid-term election and seven months away from the parliamentary election, the national government, through the OPAPRU, orchestrated a regime change in the BARMM. They removed the Chairman of the MILF, Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, as Chief Minister and appointed a new Chief Minister, Abdulraof Macacua without prior consultation and concurrence of the Central Committee of the MILF,” Iqbal said in a speech during the gathering of peace advocates here on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

Macacua, a senior member of the Central Committee, is the BIAF chief of staff.

Iqbal, BARMM minister of education, said that the Bangsamoro people view Malacañang’s move as a classic divide and rule tactic. “A counter-insurgency move designed to destroy the MILF,” he said.

He recalled that the national government did not even follow the endorsement of 41 MILF nominees in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

Instead, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. only appointed 35 of the 41 nominees.

“This deviation undermines Section 2, Article XVI, of the Bangsamoro Organic Law which provides that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front shall lead the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, without prejudice to the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front in its membership," Iqbal said.

Marcos’ move, Iqbal added, violated the CAB's Annex on Transitional Arrangements II.B.2. which provides that the BTA shall be MILF-led.

“At this point in time, the MILF doubts whether the President is fully briefed and well-informed about the gravity of the situation in the BARMM,” Iqbal lamented.

Last week, hundreds of people from civil society organizations (CSOs) gathered in Cotabato City to protest the alleged meddling of Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo in the internal affairs of the Bangsamoro region.

CSO Mass Action Steering Committee Chairperson Mahdie Amelia called on Malacañang to end what he described as “blatant interference” in the internal governance and policy decisions in the Bangsamoro government.

Amid these issues hounding the Bangsamoro region, Iqbal said that the MILF remains committed to establish genuine peace in the region.

“The MILF has been consistent on this solid position from the very first day of the signing of the CAB more than 11 years ago. Anybody who wants to read the agenda of the MILF need not go any further than the CAB. It is all there complete with the Annexes and Roadmap and our collective goal is to have it fully implemented,” he said.

The MILF, Iqbal added, expects no less than what is enshrined in the agreement. But the group will not tolerate half-baked shortcuts or "puwede na" mentality in implementing the political and normalization tracks of the peace agreement.

Iqbal called on all parties to ensure a clean, , l . 13.

While the MILF is determined to win the first parliamentary election, Iqbal said that it is also important to preserve the institutional and political reforms that they have already established in the Bangsamoro region.

He admitted that the election is going to be highly contentious and doubly difficult for the United Bangsamoro Justice Party candidates who are considered neophytes in politics.

“Win or lose, MILF is ready to submit itself to the will of the people in a democratic exercise. Let this election be a direct exercise of the collective right to self-determination of the Moro people,” Iqbal said.