PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the oath-taking of new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority , the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao , citing its political significance while reminding officials to plan long-term economic policy, especially a fiscal framework.
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. lauded the President for making the Bangsamoro a top priority of his administration. The BOL specifies that the MILF shall lead the BTA, without prejudice to the participation of the MNLF. The BTA’s 41 members shall be nominated by the MILF, while the remaining 39 members shall be endorsed by the Government of the Philippines .
Among the new members of the BTA are Abdulkarim Misuari and Nurrheda Misuari, son and daughter of MNLF Chairman Misuari. In 2021, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11593 which postponed elections in BARMM that was scheduled to be held this year, and consequently, extending the transition period of the BTA to 2025In his speech in Malacañang on Friday, Marcos said the extension of the BTA’s term of office from 2022 to 2025 was meant to give the body more time to complete its tasks under the BOL.