Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” Matabalao has resigned from the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The move, announced Thursday, June 11, deals a blow to UBJP's influence in the city that serves as the administrative center of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Matabalao said his decision came after a period of prayer and reflection. In a letter to UBJP president Ahod Balawag “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, the former interim chief minister of BARMM, Matabalao thanked the party for backing his mayoral campaign and for helping him enter public service. But he didn't give a clear reason for leaving.
“This decision was never about me. In many ways, it meant setting aside personal aspirations and carrying a burden that has weighed heavily on my heart for a long time,” Matabalao wrote. “I chose the path that I sincerely believe is best for the future of Cotabato City and our people. I know not everyone will understand. I only ask for your prayers.”
Matabalao has now joined the newly formed Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP) as its vice president. The BFP has announced support for the parliamentary bid of BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, who is running for a district seat in Maguindanao del Norte. Macacua was appointed interim chief minister after replacing Murad, a shift that has caused internal friction within the UBJP.
One of BFP's prominent figures is Naguib Sinarimbo, former BARMM interior minister. Macacua's brother, Tamano, also serves as BFP secretary-general.
Matabalao's resignation comes as political groups prepare for the BARMM's first parliamentary elections, set for September. The UBJP, formed by the MILF as it transitioned from an armed group to a political party under the Bangsamoro peace process, currently dominates the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. But signs of internal rifts have emerged since Macacua took over as interim chief minister.
An electoral win in Maguindanao del Norte could strengthen Macacua's position to retain leadership of the regional government if elected by the parliament. The parliamentary polls will replace the current transitional arrangement.
“This decision was never about me. In many ways, it meant setting aside personal aspirations and carrying a burden that has weighed heavily on my heart for a long time.”
— Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali Matabalao
Matabalao's departure could weaken the UBJP's political grip on Cotabato City, which also hosts the seat of the regional government. The city is a key prize for any party seeking influence in the autonomous region.
The BFP is positioning itself as an alternative to the UBJP, and Matabalao's switch gives it a high-profile mayor. With the elections just months away, the political landscape in the BARMM is shifting.