DAVAO CITY – Bangsamoro Parliament member Mohagher M. Iqbal confirmed on Friday, May 22, his dismissal as minister of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
In a statement, Iqbal said he "acknowledges with a clear conscience and a humble heart" the decision of interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua to remove him from office, effective at the close of business hours on May 18.
Iqbal said the reason for his dismissal was alleged loss of trust and confidence from the chief minister, which he linked to his earlier refusal to comply with a directive to resign or be deemed resigned.
He, however, raised concerns about the manner of his removal, saying it was carried out without due process and without giving him enough time to ensure a proper handover of responsibilities within the MBHTE.
According to Iqbal, he was unable to return from foreign travel, retrieve personal belongings, or formally bid farewell to colleagues before his removal took effect.
He added that although he had been formally directed to turn over the ministry on May 19, this did not proceed after the chief minister assumed control of the agency in the afternoon of May 18.
"While I acknowledge the prerogatives inherent to the position of the chief minister, he is not above the law," Iqbal said, stressing that public officials remain bound by legal and constitutional guarantees of due process.
Despite his objections, Iqbal said he does not intend to cling to his post once he no longer enjoys the appointing authority's trust and confidence.
Iqbal called for "sobriety, restraint, and unity" among the Bangsamoro people in the lead-up to the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections on Sept. 14, 2026, describing it as a "historic election" that should reflect the free will of voters in the region.
He urged continued international support for the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, emphasizing the need to preserve the gains of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and avoid violence or provocation.
Iqbal thanked MBHTE personnel for their service and support in advancing education in the region.