COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), the newest regional political party in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), has consolidated its forces ahead of the historic Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on Sept. 14, with three of five governors in the region joining its ranks on Sunday.
Governors Tucao Mastura of Maguindanao del Norte, Datu Ali Midtimbang of Maguindanao del Sur and Ysmael “Mang” Sali of Tawi-Tawi took their oaths of membership before Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.
Basilan Vice Gov. Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman Saliman was also sworn in as a BFP member.
Macacua was sworn in as BFP party president and chairperson on Saturday. In May, he filed his candidacy for the third parliamentary district of Maguindanao del Norte as an independent.
The BFP is the closest rival of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political party of the erstwhile rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“Their decision to join us strengthens our political alliance and, more importantly, broadens the circle of leaders working toward a common vision for the Bangsamoro,” Macacua said after administering the oath-taking ceremony at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center inside the Bangsamoro Government Center here on Sunday.
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“We welcome this growing partnership with a clear commitment: to protect the gains of our peace process, strengthen our autonomy, and pursue development that reaches every community,” Macacua said.
Macacua, Mastura and Midtimbang used to be with the UBJP, while Sali and Saliman were previously affiliated with the BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC), another regional political party in the BARMM.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong Jr. was present at the activity but did not join the BFP.
“I am not a member of BFP, but we will continue to support Chief Minister Macacua,” he said, adding that “all the winning district representatives from Lanao del Sur will support Macacua if he wins and would bid to become the chief minister of the regular BARMM government.”
The Bangsamoro Government Center was tightly secured by police and military authorities, with armored personnel carriers and bomb experts deployed in the vicinity.
Security around the compound was strict following the attempted slay of Macacua when his convoy was ambushed on Saturday afternoon in Barangay Bitu, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. /mcm
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