SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will be inaugurated on Friday, March 29, kickstarting the work of the newly-created Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
The Bangsamoro Parliament, composed of BTA members, also held its First Session on Friday, paving the way for the new region’s laws.
There are at present 75 BTA members, all appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte. They are led by Interim Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim (real name Ahod Balawag Ebrahim).
In this article, we break down the BTA’s composition, looking at how many women and men there are, the background and expertise of each member, and their places of origin.
We did not include in our breakdown the 24 former ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) officials automatically included in the BTA but who will be members only until June 30, when their terms end.
Here’s a quick look at our findings:
- Men far outnumber the women.
- Most BTA members come from Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
- As expected, the BTA is dominated by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) nominees, with only 9 Moro National Liberation Front nominees and 26 government nominees.
- Members are a mix of lawyers, former rebel soldiers, traditional leaders, former government officials, civil society, and youth leaders. There’s an architect and a doctor.
Gender composition
Hover over the human figures to see the number per gender.
Women make up about 16% of the BTA, with about 12 of the 75 members female.
MILF, MNLF, government nominees
Hover over the human figures to see the number of MILF, MNLF, and government nominees.
Majority of members of the BTA were from the MILF as they were the dominant group responsible for laying the groundwork of the Bangsamoro Law. In line with this, the Bangsamoro Law also stated the BTA would be led by the MILF.
Mapping out BTA members’ origins
Hover over the spots in the map to see the number of BTA members who come from the province.
Background, expertise of BTA members
Member | Background, expertise |
Murad Ebrahim | MILF chairman |
Ali Solaiman | MILF’s 2nd vice chairperson, MILF Central Committee member |
Mohagher Iqbal |
MILF Central Committee member, Aquino-time BTC member |
Abdulraof Macacua |
MILF Central Committee member, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) chief of staff, Duterte-time BTC member |
Ibrahim Ali |
Muslim scholar, member of MILF Da’wah Committee, Aquino-time BTC member, Duterte-time BTC member |
Haron Abas | MILF secretariat chariperson, Duterte-time BTC member |
Mohammad Zainoden Bato |
MILF Central Committee member |
Said Salendab |
Muslim scholar, secretary general of Hayatul Ulama |
Mohammad Yacob |
MILF Central Committee member |
Malik Mantawil |
MILF Central Committee member |
Ali Salik | MILF Central Committee member |
Abdulwahab Pak | MILF Central Committee member |
Said Shiek |
MILF Central Committee member, Aquino-time BTC member, Duterte-time BTC member |
Ubaida Pacasem | Lawyer, MILF Central Committee member |
Hussein Muñoz | MILF Central Committee member, BIAF deputy chief of staff, Aquino-time and Duterte-time BTC member |
Abdullah Gayak |
MILF Central Committee member |
Eduard Guerra | Architect, MILF Central Committee member |
Aida Silongan | MILF Social Welfare Committee member |
Abdul Dataya Sr | Lawyer, chairman of the MILF’s Ad Hoc Joint Action Group |
Raissa Jajurie | Human rights lawyer, member of MILF peace panel’s legal panel, Aquino-time and Duterte-time BTC member |
Tucao Mastura |
Traditional leader, former mayor of Sultan Kudarat |
Mibpantao Midtimbang |
Traditional leader, former mayor of Guindolongan town |
Al-Syed Sali | Businessman, NGO leader |
Saffrullah Dipatuan |
Doctor |
Abdullah Ahang | MILF political committee member |
Maleiha Candao |
Writer |
Narciso Ekey | Businessman |
Bainon Karon | MNLF Bangsamoro Women chairperson |
Basit Sarip Abbas | BIAF commander |
Suwaib Oranon | BIAF commander |
Akmad Abas (Commander Jack) |
BIAF commander |
Abdullah Macapaar (Commander Bravo) | BIAF commander |
Faiz Alauddin | MILF political committee member |
Hadji Abdulazis Mohammad Esmael | BIAF commander |
Marjanie Macasalong |
Youth representative, Islamic studies academe |
Lanang Ali Jr | Youth representative, lawyer |
Ali Pangalian Balindong |
Lawyer, traditional leader, former Lanao del Sur representative |
Zesar Hajaj Alil | MILF political committee member |
Melanio Ulama | IP consultant of MILF, Aquino-time and Duterte-time BTC member, Teduray leader, part of MILF implementing panel in 2016 |
Muslima Abubakar Asmawil | Entrepreneur |
Muslimin Jakilan | Department of Labor and Employment-ARMM Secretary |
Sahie Sappayani Udjah | Professor |
Adzfar Hailid Usman | Professor |
Omar Yasser Sema | Lawyer, MNLF member, Duterte-time BTC member |
Romeo Sema |
MNLF vice chair, Regional Reconciliation and Unification Commission (ARMM) chairman |
Punduma Batinting Sani | Professor |
Abdul Raji Sahrin |
Secretary-general of the MNLF-Sema faction |
Hatimil Hassan | MNLF foreign relations office, MNLF peace negotiating panel, Duterte-time BTC member, ARMM assembly speaker, Basilan representative in ARMM assembly, chairperson of Southern Philippines Peace and Development Authority |
Zul Qarneyn Abas | Doctor, Department of Health-ARMM assistant secretary |
Musa Diamla | MILF member, Lanao del Sur government |
Rasul Ismael | Law graduate of Notre Dame University Cotabato |
Sitti Shahara Mastura | Law graduate of Notre Dame University Cotabato |
Amilbahar Mawallil |
Former director ARMM Office on Bangsamoro Youth Affairs, former director ARMM information office, author, former journalist, writer, youth, founding chair of Young Moro Professionals Network in Western Mindanao |
Eddie Mapag Alih | Former Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi chancellor |
Khadafeh Mangudadatu |
ARMM assemblyman |
Jamel Macaraya | Bangsamoro Development Authority board member |
Modayao Macasalong Sacar |
President of Bangsa Duterte Movement |
Abraham Burahan |
Mayor Hadji Panglima Tahil, Sulu, League of Municipalities of the Philippines secretary general |
Edrieza Nasser Rimbang | Former member of Office of Muslim Affairs |
Paisalin Tago | Former commissioner National Commission on Muslim Filipinos |
Nabila Pangandaman | Youth representative |
Laisa Alamia | Lawyer, former ARMM Executive Secretary and concurrent ARMM Social Welfare Secretary, first chairperson of the ARMM Regional Human Rights Commission |
Suharto Ambolodto | Lawyer, INCITEGov board of trustees |
Susana Anayatin | Technical service chairperson of DTI-ARMM, NAMFREL Cotabato chairperson, teacher, Duterte-time BTC member, settler communty representative |
Maisara Dandamun-Latiph | Senior state solicitor, Duterte-time BTC member, assistant secretary of DepEd ARMM, Khadija Center for Muslim Women Studies chairperson |
Mussolini Lidasan | Duterte-time BTC member, founder and executive director of Al Qalam Institute Ateneo de Davao University, member of Board of Directors of Al Amanah Investment Bank, Provincial board member of Maguindanao, president of Aksyon Mindanao |
Don Mustapha Loong | DPWH ARMM Secretary, founded and drafter of Constitution of the Young Moro Professionals |
Jose Iribani Lorena | OPPAP undersecretary, Duterte-time BTC member, MNLF peace panel member, GPH-MILF peace process group on power sharing |
Abdulmuhmin Mujahid | ARMM Darul Ifta director |
Romeo Saliga | Teduray, IPs, National Commission for Culture and Arts executive council, regional council Foundation for Philippine Environment, Duterte-time BTC member |
Alzad Sattar | DepEd-ARMM Undersecretary for Madrasah Education |
Nabil Tan | OPPAP undersecretary, deputy presidential peace adviser, GPH-MILF peace implementing panel chairperson, GPH-MNLF peace panel chairperson |
Hamid Aminoddin Datu Barra | Lawyer, former dean of the King Faisal Center for Islam, Asian and Arabic Studies, Islamic scholar, National Ulama Conference of the Philippines |
Anna Tarhata Basman – | Lawyer, head of the legal team of the government panel in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Bangsamoro Basic Law |
Baintan Adil Ampatuan | Engineer, ARMM regional planning and development office executive director, Head of ARMM Transition Team |
Duterte has to appoint 5 more members to complete what is supposed to be an 80-member body. One of those 5 will be nominated by the MILF as they will take the place of top MILF leader Ghazali Jaafar, who passed away on March 13.
Bangsamoro Interim Cabinet
Murad has also named the members of his Cabinet who are expected to take their oath this Friday, March 29.
- Murad Ebrahim – Ministry of Public Works and Highways (concurrent with his role as Interim Chief Minister)
- Architect Eduard Guerra – Ministry of Finance and Budget Management
- Lawyer Raissa Jajurie – Ministry of Social Sevices
- Mohagher Iqbal – Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education
- Doctor Safrullah Dipatuan – Ministry of Health
- Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo – Ministry of Local Government
- Abdulraof Macacua – Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy
- Mohammad Yacob – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform
- Hussein Munoz – Ministry of Public Order and Safety
- Timuay Melanio Ulama – Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs
Bangsamoro Parliament
On Friday, the BTA held its First Session as a Parliament where they elected the Parliament officers. They are the following:
- Speaker: Ali Pangalian Balindong
- Deputy Speaker: Hatimil Hassan
- Majority Leader: Lanang Ali Jr
- Minority Leader: Laisa Alamia
What comes next? Within the first 60 days after the BTA takes charge, Murad will need to submit a proposed transition plan, which will detail next steps as ARMM phases out to make way for BARMM.
The transition plan will contain an organizational plan and implementation schedule, which will then be reviewed and approved by the BTA as a whole.
After seeing majority of residents vote to ratify the Bangsamoro law, the challenge for the MILF is to build the foundations of the new Bangsamoro region.
The BTA will have the task of delivering results that the Bangsamoro people expect from the BOL: peace and security, reduced poverty, development of business and jobs, and stability among ethnic clans and economic classes, among others.
What are some of the BTA’s priorities? The BTA will be in charge of governing the Bangsamoro region for the next 3 years.
Its first steps will include crafting laws that will serve as the foundation for its governance, namely administrative, local government, and electoral codes.
It needs to set up the BARMM bureaucracy, especially the line agencies that will be tasked with delivering basic services and implementing key programs – from critical infrastructure to protecting and using natural resources.
Murad has said the BTA will prioritize education, health services, social services, and infrastructure.
The Chief Minister and his Cabinet will be in charge of executing laws and programs. The BTA, sitting as a Parliament, will exercise the legislative functions.
Also among the BTA’s 55 powers is the administration of its own justice system, raising of funds through tax collection, alteration of boundaries of municipalities and barangays, and development of culture and education. – Rappler.com
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