Abdolraof Macacua is BARMM's first elected Chief Minister

The Bangsamoro Parliament on Friday elected Abdulraof Macacua as the chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Macacua, who was appointed interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in 2025, was elected with 51 votes during the inaugural session of the 1st Regular Bangsamoro Parliament held in Cotabato City.

The other contender, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, received 27 votes. One parliamentary member abstained during the voting.

Out of the 80 newly elected members of the Bangsamoro parliament, 79 attended the first session.

Macacua thereafter took his oath of office before Wālī Sheikh Muslim Guiamaden.

Atty. Amer Zaakaria Rakim was likewise elected as the Speaker of the 1st Regular Bangsamoro Parliament, securing 51 votes.

The Bangsamoro government congratulated both Macacua and Rakim for their election as chief minister and speaker, respectively.

In 2025, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appointed Macacua as the interim BARMM chief minister, replacing Ebrahim, ahead of the region’s first parliamentary elections.

The BARMM held its first parliamentary elections on September 14, with a final voter turnout of 84.34%, representing 2,018,478 voters out of the region’s 2.393 million registered voters.

The 80 newly elected Parliament members assumed office today, October 30. The first elected officials will serve a five-year term until June 30, 2031.

Under Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Parliament will elect the Chief Minister by a majority vote of at least 41 of its 80 members. The Chief Minister will lead the regional government and advance its development priorities, subject to parliamentary oversight.

READ: Who is Abdulraof Macacua?

–NB, GMA News