COTABATO CITY, Philippines — As the Bangsamoro region prepares for its historic first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026, internal tensions within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have surfaced, manifesting in a public “word war” between prominent figures.
Despite official statements maintaining that the organization remains unified, the MILF membership has fractured into three distinct political parties. The conflict is centered on the rivalry for the position of Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The race for the region’s top post is shaping up to be a head-to-head battle between two long-time MILF heavyweights:
- Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim: The MILF Chairman and former interim Chief Minister. He is the top nominee for the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP).
- Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua: The current BARMM Chief Minister and MILF military chief. He is being backed by the newly formed Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP).
The internal rift escalated recently on social media, leading to a public exchange that has “deeply hurt” the current leadership.
- Name-Calling: Chief Minister Macacua decried being targeted by “Munafiq” (hypocrite) propaganda originating from within the MILF ranks.
- Online Spat: The insults were attributed to Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Deputy Speaker Lanang Ali Jr., who has been vocal on social media.
- Official Intervention: Macacua elevated the grievance to Chairman Ebrahim. Following this intervention, Ali Jr. issued a public apology on Friday, while maintaining his constitutional right to express his opinions and beliefs.
Since its creation in 2019, the BARMM leadership has consisted of presidential appointees. The upcoming September 14 polls will mark the first time the 80 seats of the regional legislature—and subsequently the Chief Minister—will be duly elected by the people.
The emergence of the BFP has caused significant friction, as many traditional MILF members, including BFP spokesperson Naguib Sinarimbo, are now openly challenging the leadership of the UBJP.
Analysts view these internal fissures as a “litmus test” for the MILF’s transition from a revolutionary armed group to a mature political entity. While the “struggle for Moro self-determination” remains the shared goal, the competition for regional power is revealing deep-seated political divisions that could reshape the future of the Bangsamoro peace process.