Thousands of protesters gathered in Cotabato City to oppose calls for Mohagher Iqbal’s resignation and to demand the full implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreement amid growing tensions inside the MILF leadership. Source: CafeMedia BARMM Facebook

Large crowds gathered outside the Bangsamoro Government Center on May 18 to oppose Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua’s order directing Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal to resign. Protesters included Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) supporters, former combatants, students, youth groups, and community leaders who warned that recent political developments could weaken the foundations of the Bangsamoro transition process.

Police estimates placed the crowd between 10,000 and 15,000 people as demonstrators occupied Gov. Gutierrez Avenue in Cotabato City. Protesters carried placards demanding the protection of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the reinstatement of former interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, and the return of MILF-endorsed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

Many rally participants argued that the issue extends beyond a dispute over one government position. For them, the controversy reflects growing fears that the consultative structure promised under the peace agreement is being weakened during a critical transition period ahead of the Bangsamoro region’s first parliamentary elections in September 2026.

Audit Controversy Sparks Leadership Rift

The political confrontation began after Macacua requested Iqbal’s resignation over findings from a Commission on Audit investigation into the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE). The audit flagged procurement transactions amounting to more than ₱2.2 billion, including alleged deficiencies in bidding documents, missing supporting records, and delayed deliveries involving school furniture contracts. Macacua argued that the allegations threatened the principles of moral governance promoted during the Bangsamoro transition.

"The organization warned that removing Iqbal without broader consultation could have dire effects on MILF participation in the political track of the transition government."

Iqbal rejected the request to resign, saying the audit findings remain preliminary and that no criminal or administrative charges have been filed against him. He stated that resigning during the investigation could be interpreted as an admission of guilt or abandonment of duty. The dispute quickly developed into a wider leadership crisis inside the MILF. Former interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and the MILF central committee urged Macacua to suspend the order until formal consultations could take place. The MILF stressed that decisions involving senior officials linked to the peace process should not be made unilaterally.

The organization warned that removing Iqbal without broader consultation could have dire effects on MILF participation in the political track of the transition government.

Iqbal’s Symbolic Role Raises Stakes

Iqbal occupies a unique position within the Bangsamoro political landscape. Beyond serving as education minister, he was one of the chief architects of the peace negotiations that led to the CAB in 2014, ending decades of armed conflict between the Philippine government and the MILF. For many supporters, Iqbal represents continuity within the peace process itself. His role as head of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel gives the current dispute deeper symbolic and political significance.

Several civil society groups and Moro rights advocates warned that sidelining a senior peace negotiator during an unresolved audit process risks creating further divisions within the movement. Student leaders from Mindanao State University also called for protecting the gains of the peace agreement, noting that many young people in Mindanao have directly experienced the disruptions caused by conflict and displacement.

"Several civil society groups and Moro rights advocates warned that sidelining a senior peace negotiator during an unresolved audit process risks creating further divisions within the movement."

Macacua, however, defended his position by emphasizing that public accountability must apply equally to all officials regardless of their historic contributions to the peace process. He also drew a distinction between government office and MILF membership, stating that his role within the MILF remains separate from his temporary position as chief minister.

Elections Approach Amid Political Uncertainty

The dispute comes as BARMM prepares for its first fully elected parliament, widely viewed as one of the most important milestones since the creation of the autonomous region in 2019. Political analysts warn that growing tensions between factions inside the MILF could complicate the transition from an appointed authority into an elected regional government. Questions surrounding governance, accountability, and consultation are now becoming central issues ahead of the elections.

"In provinces such as Sulu, where memories of conflict remain strong and political loyalties are shaped by both local leadership and security concerns, developments inside the MILF leadership are being closely watched."

For many communities across the southern Philippines, the stability of the Bangsamoro transition remains tied not only to institutions, but also to whether the peace agreement continues to hold the trust of the people it was designed to protect. In provinces such as Sulu, where memories of conflict remain strong and political loyalties are shaped by both local leadership and security concerns, developments inside the MILF leadership are being closely watched.

REFERENCES

Bulatlat. (2026, May 19). Ordering a peace negotiator to resign as minister weakens Moro unity? Bulatlat. https://www.bulatlat.com

Daily Tribune. (2026, May 19). ‘Nobody can remove me’ — Macacua draws line between MILF membership, BARMM role. Daily Tribune. https://tribune.net.ph

Inquirer. (2026, May 19). ‘Resign order’ vs BARMM education minister opposed. Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net

Know Sulu. (2026, May 18). BARMM leadership rift deepens as Macacua pressures Iqbal over ₱2.2 billion audit controversy. Know Sulu. https://www.know-sulu.ph

Rappler. (2026, May 18). MILF grapples with BARMM leadership as Macacua orders Iqbal’s resignation. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com

Yeni Şafak. (2026, May 18). Thousands gather in southern Philippines as tensions rise over Bangsamoro peace process. Yeni Şafak. https://en.yenisafak.com