Bangsamoro Transition Authority Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Yacob has reaffirmed that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remains under the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), consistent with the core principles of its creation and the provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Reacting to circulating claims online that the national government has taken over the regional administration, Yacob clarified that such information is baseless and misleading.
He stressed that the MILF continues to hold the majority of leadership positions in both the Bangsamoro Government and the BTA Parliament.
The BOL explicitly provides that the MILF shall lead the interim Bangsamoro government throughout the transition period, until the first regular regional elections are held.
The said leadership structure was reportedly a key element of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which formally ended decades of conflict and granted the MILF the mandate to steer the new autonomous region toward stability and self-governance.
Yacob emphasized that this arrangement remains fully supported by the national government, which continues to uphold the peace process and the autonomy of the region. He also called on the public to avoid misinformation that could undermine the integrity of the transition and the trust built between the government and the MILF.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has earlier reiterated his administration’s commitment to the peace and development agenda in the Bangsamoro.
‘A stronger BARMM means a stronger Mindanao. A stronger Mindanao means a stronger Philippines, bringing us closer to achieving our agendas,’ the President said.
Under the directive of the president, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr. also affirmed this stance, emphasizing the government’s continued partnership and support in BARMM.
‘The national government remains fully supportive of the region’s transition efforts, and we look forward to deeper collaboration to uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos in the Bangsamoro,’ said Lagdameo.
The BTA serves as the interim government of the BARMM, with the MILF at the helm until the region holds its first regular elections.