Bangsamoro transition body takes over ARMM

Residents who returned from evacuation centers walk past a bullet-ridden house believed to have been rented by pro-Islamic State group leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute before their attack on the region, in Basak, Malutlut district in Marawi City on October 29, 2017. REUTERS

MANILA – The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) formally took over the reign from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during the ceremonial turnover and transition on Tuesday in Cotabato City.

The 80-member BTA, which was sworn in by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, assumed leadership as the interim government gears up for the new challenge of attaining peace in Mindanao.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, as the interim chief minister, will head the transition body, which will have legislative and executive powers during the transition period until the first local election takes place in 2022.

“We recognize the enormous challenge we will be facing. Because, although we have been in the struggle for several decades, the next level of the struggle is far different from what we have done during the past years,” Murad said in a television interview.

“This is really basically a transformation from a revolutionary to governance,” added Murad, who also said that the transition body is to be composed of 41 members from the rebel group MILF and another 39 government appointees.

The Bangsamoro government will have exclusive control over budgeting, justice, agriculture, human rights, and tourism, even if the national government will retain its powers over constitutional and national matters.

Murad also named some Cabinet members for the Bangsamoro government, which includes MILF peace panel’s Mohagher Iqbal (education), MILF Central Committee member Eduard Guerra (finance, budget, and management), and Bangsamoro Transition Commissioner Raissa Jajurie (social services).

MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar was named as the speaker of the parliament, while Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo will be the Minister for the Local Government. Murad will also head the Public Works Minister.

The ratification of the Bangsamoro law officially abolished the ARMM, which was established in 1989 through Republic Act 6734./PN

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