By Edwin Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Lawyer Bantuas Lucman has officially assumed his role as the secretary-general of the Bangsamoro Parliament, taking over the legislative Secretariat from his predecessor, Raby Angkal, during a formal turnover of records on Thursday afternoon.
Lucman, a proud Maranaw, was elected during the inaugural session of the regular Bangsamoro Parliament on Oct. 30 in this city.
The transition involved transferring documents accumulated over the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) seven-year run, a move intended to maintain operational continuity as the new legislature begins its five-year term.
The 80-member BTA has served as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) provisional lawmaking body since the region’s official establishment in 2019.
In a statement released Friday, Lucman stressed to the Secretariat staff the importance of political neutrality, urging personnel to prioritize institutional integrity over individual or party agendas.
“Our ultimate loyalty is to the law, the institution, and the Bangsamoro public,” he told the Secretariat staff.
As head of the Secretariat, Lucman manages legislative archives, documents plenary sessions, certifies passed bills, and provides administrative and technical support to committees and lawmakers.
His responsibilities also include property custodianship, staff supervision, and civil service compliance.
Before taking on this legislative role, Lucman built a diverse background in public service.
He previously worked as the BARMM’s attorney-general and as the acting deputy minister for the region’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education. (PNA)
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OFFICE ASSUMPTION. Newly elected Bangsamoro Parliament Secretary-General (Sec-Gen) Bantuas Lucman (right) and outgoing Sec-Gen Raby Angkal present the office records during turnover ceremonies at the Parliament Secretary-General’s office in Cotabato City on Thursday (Nov. 5, 2026). Lucman will manage legislative records, certify passed bills, and support committees and lawmakers in the region. (Photo courtesy of Bangsamoro Parliament)
