Cotabato City ready for BARMM inauguration

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — All is set for the symbolic inauguration by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Friday.

BARMM officials told reporters Thursday that Police Brig. Gen Graciano Mijares of the Bangsamoro regional police and Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division are now coordinating security preparations for the event.

Staff of the Philippine Information Agency in Region 12 said the inaugural rite for the newly-established BARMM will be on Friday afternoon at the Bangsamoro regional capitol in Cotabato City.

Officials of BARMM and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority hold office in the same 32-hectare compound used by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the region that BARMM replaces.

According to MindaNews, the date of the inauguration was originally set for March 11 but was rescheduled to March 21. 

Duterte last visited Cotabato City three days before the Commission on Elections administered the January 21 plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which created the region.

The BOL is the implementation of peace agreements between Malacañang and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Al Haj Ahod Ebrahim, more commonly known as Murad Ebharim, is now interim chief minister of the BARMM and head of the BTA.

The BTA is overseeing the transition from the ARMM to a more empowered Bangsamoro regional government.