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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider MILF central committee suspends Macacua as BIAF chief

MILF central committee suspends Macacua as BIAF chief

Published Jun 6, 2026 02:20 pm
MACACUA
MACACUA
DAVAO CITY – The central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has indefinitely suspended Abdulraof Macacua as chief of staff of its armed wing the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) due to alleged acts of defiance and insubordination.
In a statement on Friday, June 5, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim confirmed that Macacua, interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was suspended after the central committee adopted Resolution No. 1, Series of 2026, on Wednesday, June 3, during their regular meeting here.
Ebrahim confirmed the suspension of Macacua two days after the document was publicized in social media.
The central committee enumerated a series of acts by Macacua inconsistent with his obligations as chief of staff and member of the MILF.
These were:
– Assumption as BARMM interim chief minister on March 3, 2025 without prior consultation with the central committee.
The MILF said this was unceremonious and threatened the unity of the organization.
– Replacing 41 MILF nominees in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
The MILF said since assuming office as chief minister, Macacua had removed or attempted to remove MILF officials and affiliates from key BARMM positions, despite repeated requests from the central committee to retain them Macacua has been the BIAF chief of staff for more than three decades.
The controversy in the Bangsamoro government heated up in May after Macacua dismissed MILF Vice Chairman and Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education chief Mohagher Iqbal amid allegations of massive corruption.
Despite the appeal from the central committee to hold Iqbal’s dismissal, Macacua insisted on his decision, citing authority and legality as the chief minister.
But Ebrahim, in his letter addressed directly to Macacua, reminded him that as interim chief minister, decisions on appointments, transfers, and removals of key MILF officials require mandatory consultation with the MILF as lead BTA under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and Article XVI, Section 2 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
"Please be reminded that as interim chief minister, this decision is not solely yours to make," the memorandum stated. "As lead in the transition period, the MILF central committee wished to discuss this matter with you in the spirit of genuine dialogue and shura (consultation)."
The central committee described Macacua’s decision to remove Iqbal as the final breach. The resolution also cited Macacua's refusal to carry the banner of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) when he unilaterally decided to run as an independent candidate for district representative of the third district of Maguindanao del Norte without consulting MILF leadership.
Macacua is the current secretary general of the UBJP, the MILF's official regional parliamentary political party.
The MILF chief emphasized that the suspension is an act of accountability and uphold the military hierarchy of the BIAF.
He added that the move was not a personal matter but as an institutional imperative.
"The resolution reflects the Central Committee's commitment to preserving the integrity of the organization, maintaining discipline within its ranks, and ensuring adherence to the principles, policies, and decisions of the MILF," Ebrahim said.
Macacua acknowledged his suspension and said he was not entirely displeased with the decision.
He admitted that simultaneously running the Bangsamoro government and military chief of the MILF had been an exceptionally difficult burden.
The BARMM chief justified his decision to run as an independent candidate as this would allow him to govern impartially as chief minister over all Bangsamoro constituents across party lines.
"Sinadya kong mag-independent candidate dahil matagal pa ang election, kailangan patas pa rin ang aking pamumuno sa lahat ng Bangsamoro as chief minister. Umiiwas ako na maging bias sa ibang Bangsamoro na nakakalat sa iba't ibang partido," he wrote in Facebook.
(I decided to run as independent candidate since the elections are a few months away and I need to be fair as Bangsamoro chief. I don’t want to be biased to Bangsamoro in different parties)
Macacua appealed to his supporters to remain calm and avoid actions that would worsen the situation. "Kailangan mapagmahinahon. Huwag gagawa ng hakbang na lalong magpalala ng situation. Huwag magpadala sa mga taong hindi maganda ang kanilang mga payo."
(Be calm. Do not exacerbate the situation. Don’t listen to people who don’t give good advice)

Related Tags

MILF BIAF Abdulrauf Macacua
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