A Life Shaped by the Bangsamoro Struggle

Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, widely known as Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, was born on 15 May 1949 in Cotabato, Philippines. A Bangsamoro leader, peace advocate, and statesman, he has dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice, self-determination, and lasting peace for the Bangsamoro people. He studied at Cotabato Public High School and later pursued Civil Engineering at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City. However, during his student years in the late 1960s, he left his studies to join the Moro movement, becoming involved in the struggle for the rights and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

Murad initially joined the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as a commander and later became one of the founding leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Over the years, he assumed key leadership positions within the organization, serving as Vice Chairman for Military Affairs and Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). Following the passing of Sheikh Salamat Hashim, Murad succeeded him as Chairman of the MILF in 2003, providing steady leadership during a crucial period in the Bangsamoro struggle.

Committed to transforming conflict into peace, Murad played a central role in negotiations between the MILF and the Government of the Philippines. He served as Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel Negotiating Team from 2001 to 2003 and was instrumental in advancing the peace process that culminated in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2012 and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014. These landmark agreements laid the foundation for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), marking a historic transition from armed struggle to democratic self-governance.

In 2019, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim became the first Chief Minister of BARMM and Chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). Under his leadership, the Bangsamoro government focused on institution-building, moral governance, public service reform, and the implementation of the peace agreements. His administration sought to demonstrate that the aspirations once pursued through armed resistance could be achieved through democratic governance, accountability, and inclusive development.

Today, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim is recognized as one of the most influential figures in modern Bangsamoro history. His leadership helped guide the Bangsamoro people through the difficult transition from decades of conflict toward peace, autonomy, and self-governance.