Macacua retains 6 BARMM ministers

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Six of the more than 30 ministers who tendered their courtesy resignations last month have been retained in their posts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

BARMM Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua told reporters yesterday that he has declined the resignations of Ministers Akmad Brahim (natural resources), Ubaida Pacasem (budget and finance), Kadil Sinolinding (health), Muslimin Sema (labor and employment), Raissa Jajurie (social services) and Jehan Usop (science and technology).

“We are still evaluating the performance of other heads of ministries and chiefs of support agencies under the regional government as basis for their retention or replacement,” Macacua told reporters via text message.

Officials of the eight newly established Bangsamoro municipalities in Cotabato province expressed their gratitude to Macacua for declining the resignation of Sinolinding, a physician-ophthalmologist, and Jajurie, a Tausug lawyer from Sulu.

“Their ministries already have functional public service networks in the special geographic area in Cotabato and in two nearby towns in Maguindanao del Sur – Pagalungan and Datu Montawal. We are glad that they will remain in their offices,” said Pagalungan Mayor Abdillah Mamasabulod.

Ligawasan Mayor Esmael Mama said the retention of the six ministers assures them of the continuation of social services for marginalized villagers.

“We are grateful that our chief minister declined the resignation of our natural resources minister,” Mama said, referring to Brahim who is also an official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Sema, who has been at the helm of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, is chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Both the MNLF and MILF, which have separate peace agreements with the national government, are overseeing the operations of a number of agencies under Macacua’s office.

Comelec to release voters’ list

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is set to come out with the official list of voters for the first BARMM parliamentary polls in October.

The Comelec said it has set Aug. 7 as the deadline for the posting of computerized voters lists in all BARMM offices of the election officer.

The poll body added that the voters’ lists would be posted in every town and city once these are verified by the election registration boards and accredited citizens’ arms.

The BARMM had around 2.3 million registered voters during the midterm elections.— Mayen Jaymalin