Abdulraof Macacua

Abdulraof Abdulraof Macacua (born September 13, 1957), also known by his nom de guerre Sammy Gambar, is a Filipino politician and former rebel commander serving as the interim chief minister of Bangsamoro since March 2025. He has been a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority parliament since March 2025 and previously from 2019 to 2023. He previously served in the Bangsamoro Cabinet of Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim as Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy from 2019 to 2022 and Senior Minister from 2019 to 2023. He was also a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. Macacua was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as the Officer in Charge (OIC) governor of Maguindanao del Norte, serving from 2023 until Marcos appointed him interim chief minister in March 2025.

Macacua joined the Moro conflict in 1971 to fight for Moro self-determination. He eventually rose through the ranks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), becoming its chief of staff. He then became a member of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel during the Bangsamoro peace process.

Early life Abdulraof Abdulraof Macacua was born on September 13, 1957, to Salma B. Macacua and Macacua W. Tubo-Tubo in Gambar in Kabuntalan, Cotabato (now in Maguindanao del Norte).

Moro Islamic Liberation Front In 1971, Macacua joined the Moro independence movement and adopted the nom de guerre Sammy Gambar. He fought for self-determination of the Moro people under the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). He underwent training both within the Philippines and abroad and rose the rank of the MILF. He later became Chief-of-Staff of the BIAF and a member of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel which engaged in peace talks with the Philippine national government. He also became a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, a government body tasked to create an organic law for a Bangsamoro autonomous region. As environment minister, he overlooked the implementation of the Kayod sa Bangsamoro program, which encouraged backyard farming in the region. In February 2022, all ministers and their deputies were ordered by Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim to submit their courtesy resignations to make way for a cabinet reshuffle. On March 14, former MENRE deputy minister Akmad Brahim took his oath of office as the new environment minister. Macacua remained as Senior Minister.

Governor of Maguindanao del Norte (2023–2025) On April 5, 2023, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Macacua as the Officer in Charge (OIC) governor of the newly created Maguindanao del Norte province. The Bangsamoro government initially endorsed Ibrahim Ibay, mayor of Parang, to be appointed to his role but the national government selected him in the end. He was assured by Marcos and Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim that his appointment is legal. But his appointment remains challenged.

On April 28, 2023, Macacua, along with the other appointed OIC officials of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, took their oaths of office before President Marcos at Malacañang Palace.

Interim Chief Minister of Bangsamoro (2025–present) President Bongbong Marcos appointed Abdulraof Macacua as the second interim chief minister of Bangsamoro on March 3, 2025 and will succeed Murad Ebrahim. He is expected to serve until the first regular 2026 Bangsamoro Parliament election which was postponed from May to October. This was confirmed on March 9. He took oath before Marcos on March 12, 2025. Macacua also returns as a member of parliament.

His appointment was questioned by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front through its editorial on its Luwaran newspaper alleging Marcos violated the Bangsamoro Organic Law by appointing an interim chief minister not on the official list proposed by the former rebel group.

Macacua's tasks include overseeing the reallocation of the parliamentary districts for Sulu, a province excluded from the autonomous region by a Supreme Court decision in 2024. Macacua has pledged to mend ties with the larger MILF organization.

Macacua issued memorandum circular no. 7 on June 23, 2025 for all appointed and designated ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of offices and agencies to tender their courtesy resignations. He took the interior ministry portfolio on July 22, 2025 after he accepted the courtesy resignation of Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government a day prior.

On August 14, 2026, Macacua's convoy was fired upon by unidentified assailants in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte as he was returning from Kabuntalan, where he attended a ceremony marking his assumption of the leadership of the Bangsamoro Federalist Party. No injuries were recorded.

Personal life Abdulraof Macacua is married to Guianima Balang with whom he has seven children; four boys and three girls.