Duterte says he taps Cabinet officials to assist BARMM

September 18, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte met in Malacanang officials of the Bangsamoro government to discuss some of their concerns.

In an interview with reporters on Tuesday night, Duterte said he created a committee composed of some Cabinet members to help the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

He said there is a need for additional officials who would liaison between the national government and BARMM.

"I formed a committee of just a few members of the Cabinet to assist them in building the structure of a BARMM government," he said.

Duterte said he also discussed with BARMM officials led by Interim Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim the prompt remittance of the region's budget.

"Just like any government office, you have to have money to buy supplies, to pay the employees, and everything," he said. 

Duterte earlier said that he transferred former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, a Mindanaoan, to the Mindanao Development Authority to be his point person in the BARMM. Celerina Monte/DMS