Once an MILF ally, ex-BARMM minister returns with Malacañang’s backing before polls

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Former Bangsamoro interior minister Naguib Sinarimbo has returned to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as a member of parliament, this time with backing from Malacañang.

Sinarimbo, who resigned in late 2023 and later aligned with a political alliance opposing the party of the ruling Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), took his oath at Malacañang on Monday, March 24. 

In 2024, Sinarimbo filed his certificate of candidacy for the 2nd parliamentary district seat of Cotabato City, the regional center.

His appointment as a new member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and regional parliament was confirmed a day before the mass oath-taking and Iftar event in the Palace on Monday, a development that caught many in the predominantly Muslim region by surprise.

Early this month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reshuffled the BTA, appointing 77 members in a move that could reshape the region’s political landscape ahead of its first parliamentary elections.

The shake-up came after the postponement of BARMM’s parliamentary elections, originally set for May, a delay meant to ensure a smoother transition to an elected government.

The appointments, signed on March 3, saw 58 lawmakers retained from the previous parliament while 19 new faces entered the fold. Their term – just seven months – ends in October, when Bangsamoro voters will elect their first full-fledged parliament.

Since its creation in 2019, the Bangsamoro parliament has served as the region’s interim governing body under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, navigating the complexities of self-rule in Mindanao’s autonomous region.

“I extend my gratitude to His Excellency for this opportunity to once again serve the Bangsamoro and contribute my expertise to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority,” Sinarimbo posted on Facebook.

“As we navigate the crucial period leading up to the first Bangsamoro parliament elections later this year, I am committed to ensuring that the laws we craft are just, inclusive, and centered on the needs of our people, despite the constraints of time,” he added.

Sinarimbo was instrumental in founding the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the MILF’s regional political party, together with BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, his predecessor Aho “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, and other MILF leaders. 

Their struggle in the MILF led to a decisive victory in the 2019 plebiscite, securing Cotabato City and 63 barangays in Cotabato province for the new Bangsamoro region. The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law paved the way for BARMM’s creation.

After he stepped down as BARMM interior minister in December 2023, Sinarimbo led Serbisyong Ingklusibo-Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP), a political bloc allied with the BARMM Grand Coalition, a rival of the MILF’s party in the upcoming Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

Before BARMM’s creation, Sinarimbo, a lawyer, served as executive secretary of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). 

He was part of a high-level panel which reviewed the 1996 Peace Agreement’s implementation and later played a role in negotiating the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. 

As a member of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s legal team, he helped draft and pass the BOL.

When BARMM became operational in 2019, Sinarimbo led the BARMM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), spearheading rapid development projects, including the construction of municipal halls in remote villages and previously ungoverned areas. Among these initiatives were government centers in Turtle Island, Tawi-Tawi, and a desalination project providing potable water to isolated communities.

“As a Bangsamoro whose Jihad is through pen and paper, I have been on many sides of the Bangsamoro struggle,” Sinarimbo said, reflecting on his experience across different administrations.

Sinarimbo said he saw his new role as an opportunity to further strengthen governance in BARMM, one that is “accountable, cohesive, and truly representative of our people’s aspirations.” 

“I am honored to have been part of the evolution of the struggle for self-determination of the Bangsamoro. This work as a member of the parliament brings full circle to our journey, and we hope to bring our experience to bear for the benefit of our people,” he said.

The SIAP chapter in Cotabato hailed Sinarimbo’s appointment to the BTA, saying the region would benefit from Sinarimbo’s “progressive public service.” 

“May Allah guide you and shield you from all forms of evil eye,” read part of the group’s statement.

In Lanao del Sur, Marantao Mayor Akira Alonto called Sinarimbo a “true visionary with a deep understanding of development and progress.”

Alonto said, “We are confident that Atty. Sinarimbo’s new role in the Bangsamoro Parliament will open even more opportunities for progress, not just for Marantao but for the entire Bangsamoro region.” – Rappler.com