Manila, March 24 -- Former Bangsamoro interim chief minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim officially welcomed new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) leader Abdulraof Macacua on Monday while declining a parliamentary appointment from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Ebrahim, who led the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for five years, expressed full support for Macacua - former governor of Maguindanao del Norte and military leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) armed wing.

"His leadership and commitment to peace and development are well documented," Ebrahim said of his successor, appointed by Marcos 22 days earlier.

The outgoing chief confirmed he would remain as MILF chairman and president of its political arm, th...