ARMM formally turns over power to newly-created BARMM

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte greets one of the guests during the ceremonial confirmation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite canvass results and oath-taking ceremony of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority at the Malacañan Palace on February 22, 2019. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao formally turned over its power to the newly-formed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in Cotabato City on Tuesday, February 26.

“Pormal ko ngayong ipapasa ang pamunuan sa BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) sa pamumuno ho ni interim Chief Minister Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim. Pormal ko ring isinasara ang kabanata ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at binubuksan ang ating bagong kabanata ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (I formally turn over the leadership to the BTA under interim Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. I also formally close the last chapter of the ARMM and open the new chapter of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),” outgoing ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman said in his speech during the turnover rites.

With this, the 80-member BTA, which will govern the BARMM for the three-year transition period until 2022, officially assumes leadership. The body, composed of 41 representatives from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and 39 others from the government, took their oath of office before President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang last February 22.

During the transition period, the interim chief minister will exercise the executive authority, while the BTA members will exercise the legislative powers.

Ebrahim, on the other hand, announced at the ceremony the officials who will head the ministries in BARMM.

Some of those who are named are as follows: MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal (Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education); MILF Central Committee member Eduard Guerra (Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management); Bangsamoro Transition Commissioner Raissa Jajurie (Ministry of Social Services); lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo (Ministry of Local Government); and Ebrahim (Ministry of Public Works), among others.

Former MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar, meanwhile, will serve as the speaker of the parliament.

In his speech, Ebrahim said they are still planning when the inauguration of BARMM will be, but hopes that it will happen within March.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), in January proclaimed the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), after a majority of people in the ARMM voted in favor of it.

Replacing the ARMM, the BARMM will have more have more powers, resources, and a larger area.

Results of the two-part BOL plebiscite which took place last January 21 and February 6 showed that the Provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, as well as cities of Marawi, Lamitan, Cotabato, and 63 villages in North Cotabato form the new region.