BARMM Chief Minister Assumes Leadership of Bangsamoro Federalist Party

Abdulrauf Macacua, the chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), has officially taken the helm as chairman of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party. This move solidifies his political standing as he also prepares to run as a candidate for a seat in the BARMM parliament.

The assumption of party leadership occurred during a symbolic ceremony on Saturday, August 15, in Macacua's hometown of Barangay Gambar, Kabuntalan town, Maguindanao del Norte. The event drew thousands of party members, supporters, and local officials, underscoring the party's growing influence. Bangsamoro parliament member Tomando Antok relinquished his chairmanship to Macacua, who was then sworn in as a party member.

Macacua had previously filed his candidacy as an independent candidate for a parliamentary seat covering districts in Cotabato City and Maguindanao del Norte. The Bangsamoro region is gearing up for its first-ever parliamentary elections on September 14, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), military, and police fully prepared.

The Bangsamoro Federalist Party has experienced a surge in membership, with more than half of the town mayors in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi provinces defecting from the United Bangsamoro Justice Party. Additionally, two city mayors, Roderick Furigay of Lamitan and Bruce Mabatalao of Cotabato City, have joined the party.

As the new party chairman, Macacua expressed his commitment to leveraging the Bangsamoro Federalist Party as a platform for spreading peace, fostering cultural and interfaith solidarity, and promoting political tolerance among the diverse Muslim, Christian, and indigenous communities within the Bangsamoro region. The Comelec has approved the participation of over 10 regional parties in the upcoming elections.

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I will do my best to make the Bangsamoro Federalist Party become an effective facet for spreading peace, for fostering cultural and interfaith solidarity and political tolerance and understanding among the Muslim, Christian and the indigenous communities in the Bangsamoro region.