MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang finally released the appointment papers of 76 Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) members on Wednesday, February 27, or 5 days after they took their oath of office.

A total of 77 appointment papers were released on Wednesday, including the appointment paper of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ebrahim as Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister.

Here is the list of BTA members with appointment papers:

1. Murad Ebrahim
2. Ghazali Jaafar
3. Ali Solaiman
4. Mohagher Iqbal
5. Abdulraof Macacua
6. Ibrahim Ali
7. Haron Abas
8. Mohammad Zainoden Bato
9. Said Salendab
10. Mohammad Yacob
11. Malik Mantawil
12. Ali Salik
13. Abdulwahab Pak
14. Said Shiek
15. Ubaida Pacasem
16. Hussein Muñoz
17. Abdullah Gayak
18. Eduard Guerra
19. Aida Silongan
20. Abdul Dataya Sr
21. Raissa Jajurie 
22. Tucao Mastura 
23. Mibpantao Midtimbang 
24. Al-Syed Sali
25. Saffrullah Dipatuan
26. Abdullah Ahang
27. Maleiha Candao
28. Narciso Ekey
29. Bainon Karon
30. Basit Sarip Abbas
31. Suwaib Oranon
32. Akmad Abas
33. Abdullah Macapaar (Commander Bravo)
34. Faiz Alauddin
35. Hadji Abdulazis Mohammad Esmael
36. Marjanie Macasalong
37. Lanang Ali Jr
38. Ali Pangalian Balindong
39. Zesar Hajaj Alil
40. Melanio Ulama
41. Muslima Abubakar Asmawil
42. Muslimin Jakilan
43. Sahie Sappayani Udjah
44. Adzfar Hailid Usman
45. Omar Yasser Sema
46. Romeo Sema
47. Punduma Batinting Sani
48. Abdul Raji Sahrin
49. Hatimil Hassan
50. Zul Qarneyn Abas
51. Musa Diamla
52. Rasul Ismael
53. Sitti Shahara Mastura
54. Amilbahar Mawallil
55. Eddie Mapag Alih
56. Khadafeh Mangudadatu
57. Jamel Macaraya
58. Modayao Sacar
59. Abraham Burahan
60. Edrieza Nasser Rimbang
61. Paisalin Tago
62. Nabila Pangandaman
63. Laisa Alamia
64. Suharto Ambolodto
65. Susana Anayatin
66. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph
67. Mussolini Lidasan
68. Don Mustapha Loong
69. Jose Iribani Lorena
70. Abdulmuhmin Mujahid
71. Romeo Saliga
72. Alzad Sattar
73. Nabil Tan
74. Hamid Aminoddin Datu Barra
75. Anna Tarhata Basman
76. Baintan Adil Ampatuan

President Rodrigo Duterte still has to name 4 more people in order to complete the BTA which must have 80 members.

The names in the list of 76 are mostly nominees of the MILF, something expected given that the Bangsamoro Organic Law states that the MILF will lead the BTA or will have a majority of its seats.

Naguib Sinarimbo, a lawyer who was tapped to be part of Murad’s Cabinet as head of the Ministry of Local Government, has not been appointed into the BTA yet but the BOL states that Cabinet members need not all be part of the BTA.

Other BTA members were nominees of another Muslim group, the Moro National Liberation Front. However, these are the nominees of just one of its factions, the one led by Yusop Jikiri. The rest were chosen by the Philippine government.

The BTA is the body that will serve as the BARMM’s government from 2019 to the 2022 elections.

Duterte led the oath-taking of the BTA members in a special ceremony in Malacañang on Friday, February 22. 

Commander Bravo tapped for BTA

Among the more colorful characters now in the BTA is Abdullah Macapaar, also known as Commander Bravo.

Macapaar was commander of the MILF’s base in Lanao del Norte, where Bangsamoro advocates failed  to win 6 towns for the BARMM.

Duterte sounded fully supportive of Macapaar’s inclusion into the BTA, saying he “took the brunt” of the violence in Mindanao.

“He is a revolutionary. We are talking here of ending a revolution. So you should talk to a revolutionary or a warrior of that war,” Duterte told reporters after the oath-taking ceremony.

Last-minute changes

Duterte also admitted that he was late for the ceremony because of last-minute changes in the list of BTA appointees. 

“Kaya ako late, may hinabol sila, may in-exchange (That’s why I was late. They had to rush in some names, to be exchanged),” he told reporters.

The gathering was scheduled to take place at 3 pm but Duterte arrived around 5:30 pm.

BTA’s powers, tasks

The BTA will have the wider powers promised in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) for the new autonomous region.

These powers include the administration of its own justice system, fund-raising, alteration of boundaries of municipalities and barangays, and development of culture and education.

But the BTA’s immediate concern is craftng a transition plan. Under the BOL, within 60 days after the BTA is formed, the chief minister needs to submit a transition or phaseout plan which the BTA will approve as a body.

The proposal must include an organizational plan and implementation schedule.

The BTA will also need to craft priority laws such as administrative, local government, and electoral codes. 

The 25 incumbent officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are automatically BTA members. They will serve in the BTA until June 30, 2019, so until then, the BTA will number 105 members. However, ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman declined his seat in the BTA as he is running for Basilan congressman. – Rappler.com