MILF chief now a government servant, assumes leadership of new Muslim region

COTABATO CITY -- The leader of the country’s largest Moro rebel group today started governing an expanded territory for Muslims in southern Philippines with his assumption as interim chief minister. Al Haj Murad Ibrahim assumed Tuesday morning the leadership of the autonomous region now called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The governor of the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Mujiv Hataman officially handed over his chair to Ebrahim in simple ceremonies inside the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center here facilitated by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Sec. Carlito Galvez. After assuming post, Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), also announced some of his cabinet members who will help him run the affairs of the new political entity. Aside from ranking government civil and military officials, more than 5,000 Bangsamoro were in attendance outside the venue viewing huge LED screen about the event. Ebrahim assured ARMM civil government workers that they shall remain in office in the meantime but those who are co-terminus with the elected officials may go. All those in the bureaucracy will remain intact, Ebrahim said, soliciting applause from current ARMM employees protected by Civil Service Commission. The new government will be inaugurated next month and the first session of BARMM Parliament will also take place in March. Sincerity and perseverance had brought us this far in our struggle, he said. In concurrent capacity, Murad will also act as Minister of Public Works and Highways. The other appointees were as followsand 1. Minister of Finance, Budget and Managementand Architect Eduard Guerra 2. Minister of Social Servicesand Atty. Raissa Jajurie 3. Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical educationand Mohagher Iqbal 4. Minister of Health, Dr. Zafrullah Dipatuan 5. Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairsand Timuay Melanio Ulama 6. Minister of Local Governmentand Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo 7. Minister of Environment and Natural Resourcesand Abdoraof Macacua 8. Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reformand Mohammad Suwaib Yacob 9. Minister of Public Order and Safetyand Hussein P. Munoz The new political entity will have at least 15 ministries aside from offices and bureaus.Photos below courtesy of OPAPP. Image may contain 1 person sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53267038_2074716592565666_3091910556542566400_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108:amp_nc_ht=scontent.fcgy1-1.fnaandampoh=3ff20a78ef70ddb7bdade833e37b4d48andampoe=5D27F648 Image may contain 2 people people on stage and indoor sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/52828083_2074717669232225_8268696868192518144_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111:amp_nc_ht=scontent.fcgy1-1.fnaandampoh=ddc5216468318267d0893b4fc404e3bcandampoe=5CE7448E Image may contain 2 people people smiling people standing sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53155121_2074716202565705_7000895115950555136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1andamp_nc_ht=scontent.fcgy1-1.fnaandampoh=d125232d78032331040c5f7781a35a39andampoe=5D207E82 Image may contain 2 people people sitting sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/52598474_2074716502565675_6364504696396185600_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102:amp_nc_ht=scontent.fcgy1-1.fnaandampoh=c91b79a3a8a82b52b278daa28fc2dc33andampoe=5D249E15 Image may contain 3 people people standing sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/53010655_2074716539232338_3479343729360240640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100andamp_nc_ht=scontent.fcgy1-1.fnaandampoh=d4a70175ae7e5f8770f495e4a60c1729andampoe=5CE42F6E