Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Then and Now

During the pre-colonial period in the Philippines, the Spanish colonizers planned to invade and possess the lands of the Filipino people. They aimed to rule and acquire every house, piece of land, island, and all other resources from which they could benefit. However, they did not anticipate that the island of Mindanao was composed of various Muslim sultanates. Despite their efforts, the Spaniards failed to fully subjugate these sultanates. The fierce and long-lasting resistance gave rise to a legacy of Moro resistance against colonial rule.

Following the independence of the Philippines in 1946 from American and Spanish colonization, Muslims were increasingly portrayed as rebels. The migration of Christians to Mindanao led to the displacement of many Moro communities.

In the years that followed, the socioeconomic and political marginalization of Muslims intensified. In 1997, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), led by its founding chairman Salamat Hashim, held their first formal exploratory talks to establish a ceasefire and lay the groundwork for a more structured peace process. These talks led to the signing of the General Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

Following the death of Chairman Salamat Hashim, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, then the MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs, assumed leadership of the organization. Under his leadership, the MILF continued its pursuit of peace and negotiations with the GPH. This effort resulted in the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) in 2012, which outlined the creation of a new autonomous political entity—the Bangsamoro.

In 2014, after all annexes and related documents were finalized, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed. This landmark agreement was the culmination of the long-standing pursuit of a just and dignified resolution to the Bangsamoro question. The Parties recognized the distinct identity and legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people. In the same spirit, both sides affirmed their mutual commitment to respect each other's identity and uphold the principle of parity of esteem within the political community.

The Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, signed on February 27, 2013, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was one of the key annexes to the CAB. This annex outlines the procedures through which institutions and mechanisms for the Bangsamoro governance would be fully operationalized. It stipulates that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) shall be MILF-led and serve as the primary mechanism for MILF leadership during the transition period.

In 2018, then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law the Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), formally establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Subsequently, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim was appointed as the Interim Chief Minister of the region. Over roughly six years of leadership, significant progress was observed in the region, most notably the reduction of the poverty rate from 55.9% in 2018 to 29.8% in 2021.

However, on March 3, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed a new interim Chief Minister, replacing MILF Chairman Ebrahim. This abrupt change in leadership is seen as a clear violation of the provisions of the FAB, CAB, and BOL, which explicitly state that the BTA should be MILF-led.

Moreover, the original endorsement by MILF Chairman Ebrahim of 41 nominees to the BTA was not fully honored by the President of the Philippines. Out of the 41 endorsed nominees, only 35 were appointed, while the remaining six were personally selected by the President. This deviation from the agreed process raises serious questions about the Philippine government’s adherence to its commitments under the peace agreements and the autonomy framework.

It is now clear that the GPH is deliberately employing a divide and rule strategy in the Bangsamoro. This tactic is being carried out discreetly but decisively, with blatant violations of the peace agreement, particularly by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) under Carlito Galvez Jr., and Special Assistant to the President, Antonio Lagdameo.

By undermining the authority of Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who is not only the MILF Chairman but also the legitimate interim Chief Minister, the GPH has overstepped its bounds. The unilateral replacement of the interim Chief Minister is a direct affront to the agreements that recognize and respect the MILF’s leadership in the transition process. This move is not just a political maneuver, it is a calculated act of disrespect and betrayal.

These changes are not accidental. They are part of a broader agenda: to divide the Bangsamoro, weaken its political foundation, and tighten the GPH’s control over the region. This is a dangerous path that threatens to dismantle the trust and progress built over decades of struggle and negotiation.

The Bangsamoro people will not be silent in the face of such violations. The GPH must be held accountable for breaching the agreements it signed in good faith. Peace cannot be sustained through deception and domination. It must be rooted in mutual respect, genuine autonomy, and a clear commitment to the promises made.

On another note, the normalization process and the decommissioning of former combatants remain pressing challenges in the BARMM. Despite being critical components of the peace agreement, their slow and inconsistent implementation continues to hinder the full transition to peace, security, and long-term stability in the region.

The Annex on Normalization as attached in the CAB, Normalization is defined as a process whereby communities can achieve their desired quality of life, which includes the pursuit of sustainable livelihood and political participation within a peaceful deliberative society. Further, Decommissioning shall be a process that includes activities aimed at achieving a smooth transition of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) members to a productive civilian life.

The MILF issued a resolution on July 19, 2025 in which it highlighted that while acceding to requests of the GPH to proceed with the phased decommissioning of its forces and weapons, the MILF has repeatedly reminded the GPH that the decommissioning is designed to be done in a graduate manner, and “shall be parallel and commensurate to the implementation of all the agreements of the Parties.”

Chairman Ebrahim emphasized that of the 26, 145 MILF forces decommissioned, not a single one has successfully undergone ‘transition to productive civilian life’, as other interventions for decommissioning have essentially not been provided which should have One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100, 000.00) per combatant.

The MILF reiterates its call for good faith and good will, which are both necessary ingredients in the implementation of peace agreements, and which require parties thereto to listen to the other’s repeated pleas to heed to the written and signed agreement.

Moving forward to the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections scheduled on October 13, 2025, a wave of politically motivated narratives is beginning to surface which aimed at undermining and discrediting key provisions of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code enacted by the BTA.

Certain individuals and groups with vested political interests are intentionally sowing confusion among the public, pushing the notion that the law requires amendments and using this as a pretext to delay or postpone the elections. This tactic is nothing short of manipulation, and it must not be allowed to succeed. Postponing the elections is a direct affront to the democratic aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. For decades, they have struggled for self-governance, and now, they are more than ready to exercise their right to choose their leaders under a legitimate, representative parliamentary government.

The people of Bangsamoro are not confused, they are clear in their demand: they want continuity, development, and stability. They want a government that reflects their identity and protects their interests. And overwhelmingly, they want former Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim to return and continue the work he has started in laying the foundation for peace and progress.

The Bangsamoro Government is no longer in transition, it is now ready to govern. Attempts to derail the electoral process must be exposed and rejected. The voice of the people must prevail.