Photo courtesy PTV

The Save Bangsamoro Movement has filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the recent appointment of seven members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), arguing that they are not from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as required under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

According to the group, the appointments violate Article XVI, Section 2 of the BOL, which mandates that the MILF must lead the BTA as part of the transition framework for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). While other sectors and groups may be represented in the interim body, the law envisions a majority of its members coming from the MILF.

The petition asserts that allowing appointees who are not from the MILF to occupy significant positions within the BTA undermines the transitional setup established under the peace agreement between the government and the MILF. The group maintains that the composition of the BTA should reflect the leadership role assigned to the MILF under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the BOL.

The Supreme Court has yet to act on the petition or issue a schedule for hearings. If taken up, the case may determine how strictly the BOL’s provisions on MILF-led leadership should be interpreted during the ongoing transition period in BARMM.