Philippines: Ebrahim named chief minister of Bangsamoro

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA

Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday was sworn in as the chief minister of interim government in Bangsamoro, the newly-formed autonomous region for Muslims in southern Philippines.

Naming Ebrahim for the post, Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte was saying “Allahu Akbar (God is great)," while ending his speech at the presidential palace in Philippines, according to Huseyin Oruc, deputy head of Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) based in Turkey’s Istanbul who was present at the historic ceremony.

A two-round referendum was held on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6 in southern Mindanao to grant the Moro Muslims autonomy.

80 members of the recently-founded Bangsamoro transitional parliament took their oath, including Abdullah Goldiano Makapaar bin Sabbar, known as Commander Bravo.

By taking the oath, the Moro Rebel Bravo affirmed his loyalty to MILF and left the military camp in Lanao for the first time since 1973, putting an end to rumors that he was critical of the process, Oruc said.

All the former commanders of MILF are now members of the new parliament.

The Philippines' landmark Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was officially ratified on Jan. 25 following the first round, which granted comprehensive autonomy to Moro Muslims, ending decades of conflict between the government and the Moro Muslims.

Autonomous government

In the new region, courts of Islamic law will be established, and the Philippines’ central government will transfer its administrative authority in Mindanao to the Bangsamoro government.

The waters in the Bangsamoro region will be simultaneously managed by the national government as well as the Bangsamoro government.

The autonomous government will be responsible for the management of energy resources.

Muslims will be free in their internal affairs, but bound to the Philippines in foreign policy, with some flexibility.

In addition, former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and MILF fighters will be eligible to join official armed forces.