Image from Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament Facebook page.
Lawyer Pangalian Balindong was once again elected as Speaker of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament during the inaugural session, according to the interim government.
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim government ceremonial head Wali Sheikh Khalifa Nando opened the inaugural session in Cotabato City on September 14, according to the BTA Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division.
Presiding during the assembly was BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim once again.
Also elected during Thursday’s session are:
- Atty. Lanang Ali Jr., Deputy Speaker
- Hatimil Hassan, Deputy Speaker
- Atty. Nabil Tan, Deputy Speaker
- Atty. Omar Yasser Sema, Deputy Speaker
- Atty. Paisalin Tago, Deputy Speaker
- Benjamin Loong, Deputy Speaker
- Abdulkarim Misuari, Deputy Speaker
- Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Majority Leader
- Prof. Raby Angkal, Secretary-General
- Abdulgani Caludtiag, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Balindong said the officials have a big task ahead of them, noting that they “cannot fail because our people have suffered enough.”
“It is only through our unity that we can repay the blood that our brothers and sisters had spilt in order to achieve their dream towards peace, progress and right for self-determination,” he said.
All the newly-elected officials will serve for three years or until the first Bangsamoro elections in 2025.
“During the transition period, the BTA is mandated to enact priority legislation, including the Bangsamoro Administrative Code, Bangsamoro Revenue Code, Bangsamoro Electoral Code, Bangsamoro Local Governance Code, and Bangsamoro Education Code, as well as the Bangsamoro Civil Service Code,” BTA explained.
“Three of the seven priority codes, administrative, civil service, and education, have already been approved. The first parliament who served from 2019 to 2022 has enacted 31 bills and adopted 263 resolutions,” it added.
— Ronald Espartinez