Marcos appoints Macacua as BARMM chief minister

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s appointment of Abdulrauf Macacua as the new chief minister for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) does not violate the peace agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), according to Presidential Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr.

Macacua, who is also the chief of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-MILF, replaces Ahod Ebrahim as chief minister and will lead the 80-seat BARMM regional parliament.

Galvez clarified that the appointment adheres to both the letter and spirit of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The chiefs of MILF base commands have signed a manifesto recognizing Macacua's leadership and pledged their support for his development programs, while some groups associated with Ebrahim are protesting the lack of prior consultation.

President Marcos also appointed 77 members to the BARMM parliament, including several newcomers and reappointed key figures like Paisalin Tago and Kadil Sinolinding Jr. to ministerial positions.