COTABATO CITY (May 15) — Political alliances are beginning to shift in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as four regional political parties formally endorsed Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua for a district seat in Maguindanao del Norte ahead of the region’s historic first parliamentary elections.
The endorsements signal growing support for Macacua beyond his traditional Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) base and highlight evolving political dynamics inside the Bangsamoro government months before the Sept. 14 regional polls.
In separate statements, the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), Raayat Party, Mahardika Party, and Pro-Bangsamoro Party all declared support for Macacua’s candidacy for the third district of Maguindanao del Norte.
Macacua is running as an independent candidate despite being a longtime senior figure in the MILF and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP).
Political observers said the move reflects widening internal divisions within the UBJP and MILF following Macacua’s appointment as BARMM chief minister in 2025, replacing Ahod Ebrahim, also known as Al Haj Murad.
Macacua, a former MILF field commander and current chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, has recently promoted what he describes as a “full departure” from traditional clan-driven politics in BARMM.
Supporters from the four endorsing parties said they were drawn to Macacua’s push for coalition-building and issue-based governance ahead of the region’s first regular parliamentary elections.
The upcoming BARMM polls are widely seen as a defining moment for the Bangsamoro peace process, transitioning the region from an appointed interim government into a fully elected parliamentary system.
Macacua filed his certificate of candidacy through his son, Jamal, on the final day of filing for BARMM district seats.
Local election records initially showed Macacua running unopposed in Maguindanao del Norte’s third district — considered his political stronghold.
Weeks before the filing period, Macacua allies within MILF and UBJP circles organized the Bangsamoro Federalist Party, which plans to field a complete slate for all 80 elective BARMM positions.
The BFP had earlier identified Macacua not only as its district candidate but also as its preferred nominee for chief minister once the regular Bangsamoro Parliament is formed.
Macacua welcomed the endorsements, saying they support his vision of adopting a coalition-style parliamentary culture similar to neighboring Malaysia, where multiple parties cooperate in governance.
The endorsements also come as the UBJP and BFP compete for recognition as BARMM’s dominant political party — a classification that could provide advantages in poll watcher allocation and other election privileges from the Commission on Elections.
For many communities across BARMM, the emerging political realignments could shape not only the first parliamentary elections but also the future direction of governance, peacebuilding, and power-sharing in the Bangsamoro region.
