The beleaguered Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal said he would respect any decision to remove him from office following a Commission on Audit report alleging procurement and disbursement lapses in the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education.
However, Iqbal rejected calls to resign, warning that doing so could be seen as an admission of guilt, and said he would cooperate with any transition if ordered by interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.
The standoff comes amid calls from Macacua for Iqbal to step down, citing audit findings involving billions in procurement issues, though MILF mediators have asked for a temporary pause in the decision.
More than 20,000 supporters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held a rally backing Iqbal’s retention, while MILF chairman Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim urged consultation on major leadership changes within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Macacua maintained that his decision was guided by “moral governance” principles, while emphasizing his authority to remove Cabinet officials as part of administrative accountability.
Source: PhilNews24 | May 20, 2026
