Newly elected Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua takes his oath of office during the inaugural session on Oct. 30, 2026 at the Bangsamoro Parliament Plenary Hall in Cotabato City, formally beginning his term as head of the first regular Bangsamoro Government. (Morsid Kadir/BIO)
He once took up arms for the dream of a homeland. Decades later, he helped build the government that emerged from that struggle.
For Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, the journey from the battlefield to the halls of Parliament reflects the Bangsamoro’s own transition from armed resistance to self-governance.
On Oct. 30, 2026, that journey reached another milestone when newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) elected him Chief Minister of the first regular Bangsamoro Government, placing him at the helm of the region’s first regular parliamentary government.
Securing the Parliament’s mandate
Under Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Chief Minister must secure the majority vote of all MPs. In the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament, a candidate needs at least 41 votes to assume the position.
During the inaugural session on Thursday at the Bangsamoro Parliament Plenary Hall in Cotabato City, Macacua secured 51 votes, or 63.75 percent, in the parliamentary selection for Chief Minister.
“Today is not merely about the assumption of leadership. It is about the continuing fulfillment of a promise,” said Macacua in his speech.
He emphasized that accepting the mandate was neither a personal victory nor a claim to political entitlement, but a sacred amanah (trust) that carries the hopes, expectations, and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.
“I shall endeavor to be a leader for everyone at every time—not only for those who have placed their confidence in me, but equally for those who have expressed their reservations or chosen a different path,” he continued.
His election formally ushered in a new phase of governance for the region, moving the government from a seven-year interim administration to its first regular parliamentary government.
Leading the first regular parliamentary government
As Chief Minister, Macacua will head the executive administration and appoint the heads of the Bangsamoro ministries, offices, and agencies (BMOAs). He is also responsible for presenting a platform of government for Parliament’s approval.
He will form a Cabinet, the majority of whose members must come from Parliament, and nominate two Deputy Chief Ministers for election by the lawmakers.
Together, the Chief Minister and Cabinet will constitute the Government of the Day, responsible for implementing laws, delivering public services, and carrying out the administration’s priorities.
The position gives Macacua considerable responsibility over the direction of the regional government.
But long before he stood at the helm of the Bangsamoro Government, he had walked a different path—one marked by sacrifice, uncertainty, and an enduring belief in the dream of a homeland.
From armed struggle to peace negotiations
As the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the National Government pursued negotiations to end decades of conflict, Macacua joined the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel. He also became a commissioner of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that drafted the BOL.
As one of the Members of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), he contributed to the development of key regional legislations, including the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code, which established mechanisms for political representation, elections, and local administration.
Building the institutions of autonomy
When BARMM was established in 2019, Macacua became a member of the BTA, the interim government tasked with laying the groundwork for a permanent regional administration.
He initially served as Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) from 2019 to 2022, overseeing concerns involving natural resource management, environmental protection, and energy development.
He later served as Senior Minister, taking part in coordinating the policies and development priorities of the interim government.
Leadership beyond the regional government
In 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Macacua as officer-in-charge of Maguindanao del Norte, a province created following the division of Maguindanao.
As its first governor, he faced the task of establishing the new province’s administrative structures while setting its development priorities. His administration pursued initiatives in infrastructure, local governance, and economic growth.
Among its efforts were improving road connectivity in rural communities and strengthening coordination among the province’s 12 municipalities through a memorandum of agreement aimed at promoting cooperation and more equitable resource allocation.
From interim leadership to an elected government
In February 2025, Marcos appointed Macacua as Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Government, succeeding former Chief Minister and MILF Chair Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, who had led the region since its establishment in 2019.
His appointment came as the Bangsamoro Government prepared for its first parliamentary elections, a crucial step toward ending the transitional administration and establishing a regular government under the BOL.
Macacua also sought an electoral mandate, winning a seat as district representative of Maguindanao del Norte’s Third District under the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), which he chairs, during the Sept. 14 regional polls.
In his speech during Friday’s inaugural session, Macacua pledged to continue the Moral Governance Agenda championed by former Chief Minister Ebrahim, who is also a Member of Parliament.
“To our Amerul Mujahideen, the Honorable Chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, Sir:
I want to personally assure you that the Moral Governance Agenda you have started and steadfastly championed will remain at the very heart of my leadership,” he said.
“You have my word, Sir, that I will remain faithful to this vision, not only in words but in every decision and action of this administration, until the very last day of my mandate. This is my commitment to you, and an amanah I intend to honor,” CM Macacua added.
The work ahead
Macacua’s election as Chief Minister opens another chapter in a life closely intertwined with the Bangsamoro struggle.
He has moved through roles that reflect the changing course of that struggle: from revolutionary fighter and military leader to peace negotiator, legislator, minister, provincial governor, and now Chief Minister.
But the transition from armed struggle to governance also brings a different measure of responsibility. The aspirations that once fueled the call for self-determination must now find expression in policies, functioning institutions, and public services that respond to the needs of the people.
For Macacua, the challenge is no longer simply to carry the dream of a homeland, but to turn that dream into a reality that the Bangsamoro people can see, experience, and pass on to future generations.
“As we begin this new chapter, let us do so with clear minds, open hearts, and a renewed sense of purpose. For the Bangsamoro is greater than any one of us. Its cause is greater than our differences. And its future is a great responsibility that we must carry together,” he said. (John-Jeo Cejudo/BIO)
