The declination of Amirul Mujahideen Ahod “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim of the Member of Parliament (MP) position after Malacañang appointed acting Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraog “Sammy Gambar” Macacua in succession as interim chief minister (ICM) is actually a realization of the former’s earlier desire to remain as chairman of the MILF and steer the shift of the front from armed revolution to socio-political movement leading the transitional operations of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governance.

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Ebrahim’s earlier option might be unknown to many, including maybe some MILF field members. In an interview in 2017 arranged by Mr. Em Pasigan at Camp Darapanan by selected media practitioners including me and ABS-CBN’s George Cariño, Hadji Murad categorically revealed such option when as asked if he would lead the interim BARMM governance just like MNLF Chair Nur Misuari did for the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

 Prior to the disclosure of Ebrahim’s personal preference, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) was already organized by the MILF as its political party to flesh out the front’s transformation to political movement and serve as caretaker of the BARMM transitional operations.

But between 2018 and 2019, Hadji Murad reportedly had reconsidered his earlier expressed preference by heeding the call of other MILF bigwigs and influential supporters for him to head the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) as interim chief minister (ICM) and prevent an imminent power squabble within the front’s hierarchy, reliable sources told selected journalists.

Unprecedented approach

Meanwhile, in his public pronouncements after assuming office on March 27, ICM Macacua has pointed out plans for his seven-month or so administration to continue whatever his predecessor had initially established in pursuit of the MILF-UBJP’s mission and vision for moral governance in the BARMM community.

ICM Macacua has embarked on unprecedented approaches in pushing for transparency as a basic element of their envisioned moral governance, starting with his disclosure of all his direct mobile contact numbers for the public to interact with him on official matters meant to gather field feedbacks needed to enhance bureaucratic operations in the Bangsamoro region.

Influx of VIP visitors

ICM Macacua’s unorthodox approach has gained momentum, paving the way for the influx of VIP personalities from local, national and international communities. He has also initially embarked on engaging the media in unscheduled interviews, ostensibly trying to eradicate vacuums in promoting clear-cut policies and practices.

In litany of courtesy calls and visits peaked on April 11 when President Bongbong Marcos alongside some cabinet members visited BARMM and signed an edict providing safe conduct passes for MILF and MNLF members applying for amnesty. The ceremonial event would hopefully prevent any possible arrest of MILF and MNLF running for local positions in the May 12 polls and the subsequent BARMM parliament election on October 13 this year. (AGM)