By Edwin Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Former Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua was overwhelmingly elected as the Bangsamoro Parliament’s regular Chief Minister during its inaugural session here at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex on Friday.
Macacua of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) outdid former interim chief minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) by a margin of 51 to 27. One Member of Parliament (MP) abstained.
The acting presiding officer, MP Ishak Mastura, announced the voting.
Parliament Secretariat Director Jaime Ayub said the secretariat had earlier received a letter from MP-elect Abdulrahman Mangudadatu stating that he would be unable to attend the inaugural session because he was indisposed. Only 79 MPs were physically present.
Macacua took his oath before Sheikh Muslim Guiamaden, the Bangsamoro wali or the ceremonial head.
The Bangsamoro Parliament also elected MP Amer Zaakaria Adiong Rakim as speaker, with 521 votes. He defeated former interim speaker Mohammad Yacob, who received 27 votes.
