CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (June 3) — A major accountability battle is unfolding in the Bangsamoro government as Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua moves to file criminal and administrative charges against former education minister Mohagher Iqbal over alleged irregularities involving P2.2 billion worth of learning and training materials.
The move follows a special audit by the Commission on Audit (COA) that flagged alleged anomalies within the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), one of BARMM’s most important agencies.
In a letter to Iqbal, Macacua said the findings would be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman, where the former minister would have the opportunity to answer the allegations.
The dispute began after Macacua asked Iqbal to resign last month. When Iqbal refused, he was removed from office. Iqbal later claimed he was denied due process, but Macacua argued that the COA investigation itself provided the basis for administrative action.
More than a legal dispute, the controversy has become a test of BARMM’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
Macacua said the audit findings damaged not only Iqbal’s credibility but also public confidence in the Bangsamoro government.
“Moral governance demands that we act decisively when public trust is compromised,” he said.
The chief minister also revealed that he had previously given Iqbal another chance after consulting Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al-Haj Ahod Ebrahim. However, Macacua said longstanding concerns within the education ministry remained unresolved, including allegations involving the sale of teaching positions, irregularities in school feeding programs, and questionable appointments.
For many Bangsamoro residents, the issue goes beyond personalities and politics. MBHTE manages education programs that directly affect students, teachers, and communities across the region.
As the case heads to the Ombudsman, the outcome will help determine whether BARMM’s leaders can hold their own officials accountable and uphold the principles of good governance promised under the Bangsamoro peace process.
