Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said the first regular Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will proceed as scheduled despite the ambush of the convoy of BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, as authorities continue to investigate the attack weeks before the historic vote.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the shooting would not derail the transition toward an elected government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“Hindi po ito makakapigil sa anumang balak na magkaroon ng tuloy-tuloy na pagbabago para sa pagkakaroon ng pamahalaang demokratiko sa komunidad ng BARMM,” Castro said during a briefing on Monday, Aug. 17.
[Translation: This will not stop efforts to continue the transition toward having a democratic government in the BARMM community.]
Castro said poll officials have assessed the region as generally peaceful.
“At ayon din naman po sa Comelec ay tuloy-tuloy rin po ang eleksyon at naghahanda po sila para sa isang peaceful na eleksyon,” she said.
[Translation: According to the Commission on Elections , the election will also proceed and they are preparing for a peaceful election.]
Macacua’s convoy was reportedly ambushed in Barangay Dulangan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte at the weekend.
The official attended a gathering of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party in Kabuntalan before his convoy was attacked en route to Cotabato City.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia has ordered the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to identify those behind the attack and determine whether it was election-related.
Authorities have yet to publicly identify the perpetrators or establish a motive.
Castro said the police investigation is underway.
“Sa ngayon po ay malalimang pag-iimbestiga pa rin ang isinasagawa nila,” Castro said.
[Translation: For now, they are still conducting an in-depth investigation.]
The shooting has raised security concerns ahead of the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections, the first regular elections for the regional parliament.
Macacua has been interim chief minister since March 2025 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him to replace Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim. A former chief of staff of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s armed wing, Macacua has been overseeing the regional government during the transition to an elected parliament.
