Residents demand reforms in BARMM regional governance

COTABATO CITY — Thousands of residents from provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) converged in this city on Monday, in support for multi-sector efforts to address corruption, nepotism and other problems besetting the autonomous regional government.

Speakers in Monday’s grand rally in uptown Cotabato City also urged Bangsamoro chief minister, Abdulraof A. Macacua to keep pushing forward his “moral governance” thrusts to reboot the operation of the regional government that, for them, failed to take off since its inception in 2019.

The three-hour rally, which started with the march by participants from areas around to its venue, close to the BARMM government center, caused massive traffic jams in key thoroughfares in the city.

BARMM was established in 2019, a product of 22 years of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), replacing the then 27-year less empowered, now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We came here to join this grand rally to show that we want the Bangsamoro regional government managed efficiently, in the most transparent manner, as envisioned by Chief Minister Macacua” a 66-year-old Maguindanaon woman, Samira, told reporters in Filipino.

An ethnic Maguindanaon man, Kendatu, 72, who claimed having lost two of sons, both Moro guerillas, in an encounter with soldiers in 2000 somewhere in Cotabato province in Region 12, said he and his relatives are optimistic that Mr. Macacua and regional lawmakers under him can revitalize and make efficient the regional government sooner than expected.

“The BARMM was paid for with blood of the Moro guerillas who fought for it, some of them related to us by blood. We shall, thus, help Chief Minister Macacua make it functional, its programs and projects implemented well, in the most transparent manner,” said Badrudin, a 63-year-old farmer.

Some municipal mayors in BARMM and members of the region’s 80-member parliament separately told reporters on Monday that they are optimistic that the present BARMM regional leadership can achieve its governance reform goals with the help of officials overseeing the ministries and support agencies in the regional government.

Mr. Macacua, as BARMM’s chief minister, is also the figurehead of the regional parliament that has 80 members from the region’s five provinces and three cities.

Among those who joined Monday’s rally are hundreds of MILF members and thousands of residents from the 37 barangays in this city. — John Felix M. Unson