Bangsamoro Rally in Cotabato Calls for Lagdameo Resignation

Key Takeaways

• The rally reflected rising tension over BARMM leadership, MILF representation, and the peace process before the September parliamentary election.
• BARMM officials treated the protest as peaceful but cautioned the public about unverified crowd claims.

What Happened at the Rally

Demonstrators gathered along Gov. Gutierrez Avenue outside the Bangsamoro Government Center on June 26. Organizers placed attendance at around 400,000, while police estimates were far lower. Cotabato City Police director Col. Jibin Bongcayao estimated 50,000 to 80,000 participants, and a separate PNP count placed the crowd closer to 30,000.

The wide gap matters. On June 29, Bangsamoro Interior Minister Jordan Bayam warned the public against exaggerated claims and misleading images circulating online.

Protesters threw eggs and tomatoes at a tarpaulin bearing Lagdameo's image while chanting for his resignation. A simultaneous protest was held in Binidayan, Lanao del Sur, where participants carried signs calling for a government peace panel chair and for the peace deal to be honored.

The rally came days after another Cotabato City gathering focused on procurement concerns in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. Together, the actions show how governance, peace process, and election issues are converging ahead of the first BARMM parliamentary election.

What the Coalition Wants

Recover BARMM Now presented three primary demands: the resignation of Lagdameo, the reinstatement of Ebrahim as BARMM chief minister, and the immediate appointment of a head for the Peace Implementing Panel.

The PIP post has been vacant since February when retired general Cesar Yano resigned. Organizers said the vacancy has stalled key commitments under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

After stating the coalition's demands, speakers also warned against interference in the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 14 as the first of their kind since the region was established.

Why Lagdameo Is the Target

Coalition spokesperson Sheik Abdulhadie Gumander said Lagdameo advised President Marcos to replace Ebrahim with Abdulraof Macacua as BARMM chief minister in March 2025. The claim is an accusation from the coalition, and Lagdameo had not publicly answered it in the cited reports.

Gumander also accused Lagdameo of influencing the reduction of MILF parliamentary seats to 35. The MILF has disputed national decisions affecting its role in the regional government.

Opposition to Lagdameo among regional leaders had been building for some time. Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Ali Mangudadatu had previously called for his resignation over similar concerns about outside influence in BARMM governance. A think tank also warned in June that political tensions in the region were converging with the approaching elections.

How Officials Responded

Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento said the Marcos administration remains committed to the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Chief Minister Macacua described the rally as a healthy sign of democracy and said he had no objection as long as participants remained peaceful. Interior Minister Bayam separately urged the public to be cautious about attendance claims and imagery spreading online.

Recover BARMM Now said further peaceful actions would follow if their demands go unaddressed.