Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister (Al Haj Murad) Ebrahim denied on Wednesday the allegations of misappropriation of funds for the BARMM saying this is just a propaganda considering that elections is approaching.
This developed after Suharto Mangudadatu, former chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), alleged that Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr. had embezzled billions of pesos that were meant for the progress of BARMM.
“Dahil malapit na ang election inaasahan natin ng ganitong klase ng mga bintang sa ibang katunggali,” Murad said in a Zoom press conference on Wednesday.
Murad assured that BARMM’s budget goes through the standard process of appropriations.
“We had a parliament that scrutinize proposed budget in the government. Nagbibigay rin ng regular report at dumadaan sa proper audit ang mga transactions ng bawat ahensiya sa BARMM. Masasabi lang na propaganda ang mga allegations na ito para ma impluwensiyahan ang pag-iisip ng mga tao against BARMM kasi well-audited naman kami and we are following the process of budgeting at lahat ito ay monitored by the national government,” he said.
Mangudadatu also alleged that some projects, particularly housing projects, are incomplete because the fundings are diverted from them.
“We acknowledge that the slow progress of the decommissioning and budget utilization under the normalization program can be politicized and attract criticisms. However, it involves three entities: the national government, the MILF, and a Joint Normalization Committee. We can only speak on behalf of the office. Our office is open to transparency and welcomes COA audits to ensure that BARMM’s budget under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro is properly managed,” Murad said.
Murad added that BARMM has seen a remarkable decrease in poverty incidence from 52.6% in 2018 to 34.8% in 2023, along with a 140% increase in investments totaling P3.1 billion in the third quarter of 2023. This has led to the creation of 1,927 jobs for residents.
He also cited the recent Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur make up 53.4% of BARMM’s total economy, with Maguindanao del Norte contributing 27.8% and Lanao del Sur contributing 25.6%.
He added that the region’s economy soared from P280.3 billion in 2022 to P292.2 billion in 2023, driven by robust growth in the services, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and industry sectors. This growth resulted in a 2.2 percent increase in Per Capita GRDP, reaching an estimated P58,217, a significant improvement from the previous year’s P56,970.
Gov. Pax Ali Mangundadatu of Sultan Kudarat also alleged the political meddling of Lagdameo by wanting to remove the current governor and fielding other candidates for the post. The governor’s father, Teng Mangundadatu, also alleged that Lagdameo is coercing other mayors to join their party during the meeting of Lagdameo and Murad along with the mayors from Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur in Sotogrande Hotel in Davao City on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Murad denounced the claims of the Mangudadatus saying that the meeting was just trying to come up with a strong and viable team that will run for the 2025 local and parliamentary elections in BARMM.
“Being an alter ego of the President, SAP Lagdameo plays a crucial role in navigating and solving issues in the BARMM that need the support and guidance of the President,” Murad said.
Murad said they are prepared to address all allegations in court and uphold accountability.
“Our legal group is trying to find ways what will be the legal remedy dito. It’s just a matter of trying to explain kung ano yung sinasabi ng the good governor ay ma-explain natin, so our legal department is working on this,” he said.
In a statement, Murad said the Bangsamoro Government is studying its legal remedies against those who continue to malign its officers without evidence.
“As the election period nears, we call on everyone not only to veer away from personal attacks and false accusations but also to be careful of malicious statements driven by selfish interest,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lagdameo denied the accusations that funds intended for BARMM have been misappropriated or that politicians are being coerced to join the administration.
“As the Special Assistant to the President, my role is to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity in every aspect of my duties,” he said in a statement.
