Muslimin Gampong Sema (born April 27, 1949), also known as Mus Sema, is a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

politician who is the current minister of labor and employment of the

Bangsamoro ar, منطقة بانجسامورو ذاتية الحكم فى مسلمى مينداناو , native_name = , settlement_type = Autonomous region , anthem = Bangsamoro Hymn , image_skyline ...

autonomous region, Philippines since March 8, 2022. He has also been the former mayor of Cotabato City and a member of the

Moro National Liberation Front The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF; ar, الجبهة الوطنية لتحرير مورو) is a political organization in the Philippines that was founded in 1972. It started as a splinter group of the Muslim Independence Movement. The ...

Education

Sema finished his elementary grade at Sero Elementary School (1957-1963) in Cotabato and his secondary school years at Cotabato High School (1963-1967). In 1965, he was sent to Pennsylvania, United States as part of a summer student program. He took up

geodetic engineering Geodesy ( ) is the Earth science of accurately measuring and understanding Earth's figure (geometric shape and size), orientation in space, and gravity. The field also incorporates studies of how these properties change over time and equivale ...

at the National University from 1967 to 1970. In college, he started joining organizations where he could express his political views like the Philippine Muslim Nationalist League. He was one of the founding members of

(MNLF).

Career

In 1969, Sema worked as technical assistant of the Student's Affairs of the Commission on National Integration (CNI). From 1979 to 1989, he was the state chairman of the Utara Kutawato State Revolutionary Committee after which he became secretary general of the MNLF. In 1996, he was appointed as the executive secretary of the

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( tl, Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Muslim Mindanao; ar, الحكم الذاتي الاقليمي لمسلمي مندناو ''Al-ḥukm adh-dhātī al-'iqlīmī li-muslimī Mindanāu''; abbreviated as ARMM) was ...

(ARMM). He attended numerous local and international conferences including the Pledging Session Conference in Paris, France and to the Technical Discussion Meeting of the Department of Finance-World Bank in Washington D.C., United States as a delegate representing the ARMM. In February 1998, he became the executive director of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD). He was elected as city mayor of Cotabato in 1998 and was re-elected in 2001, 2004 and during the May 2007 elections. In 2008, he was elected by the Central Committee of the MNLF as their new chairman. Sema served as vice mayor of Cotabato City and presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod from 2010 up to 2013. He lost to Japal Guiani while running for mayor in the 2013 and 2016 elections respectively both under the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

. In 2017, Sema stepped down as MNLF chairman, and former Sulu governor

Yusop Jikiri Yusop (also Yusoph) Jikiri (1954 – 17 October 2020) was a Filipino politician, leader within the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and governor (2001–2004) of Sulu Province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). He also served ...

succeeded him as chairman. In the

2019 elections The following elections were scheduled to occur in 2019. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems has a calendar of upcoming elections around the world, and the National Democratic Institute also maintains a calendar of elections in coun ...

, Sema under the Nacionalista banner made a failed bid to get elected as Maguindanao's 1st district representative losing to Roonie Sinsuat Sr. Following Jikiri's death in 2020, Sema was re-elected as MNLF chairman. The MNLF, under Sema, launched on January 8, 2022, the

Bangsamoro Party The Bangsamoro Party (BAPA) is a political party based in Mindanao, Philippines, which is affiliated with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). History The Bangsamoro Party is a political party affiliated with the Moro National Liberation Fr ...

(BAPA) – the group's own political party. On March 8, 2022, Sema was appointed to head the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the

regional government under Chief Minister

Murad Ebrahim Ahod Balawag Ebrahim (born 15 May 1949), better known as Al-hajj Murad Ebrahim, is a Moro Filipino politician and former rebel leader currently serving as the first chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. As the c ...

, succeeding his nephew, Romeo.

Personal life

Muslimin Sema has 12 children. He is married to Bai Sandra S.A. Sema, formerly the congressional representative for the First District of Maguindanao. Sema is also an ethnic Maguindanaon.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sema, Mus 1949 births Living people People from Cotabato City National University (Philippines) alumni Filipino Muslims Liberal Party (Philippines) politicians Nacionalista Party politicians Moro National Liberation Front members