COTABATO CITY, May 2 -- A screening committee created for applicants to key positions in eight newly-created towns in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) started its work, a top regional official said Thursday.

In a statement, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said he issued on Wednesday an order for the formation of an Ad Hoc Screening and Review Committee for those applying for the positions of town mayors, vice-mayors, and council members in the new areas in the region's Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato province.

Ebrahim named lawyer Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba, a member of the BARMM parliament and concurrent regional interior minister, as committee chairperson.

In August last year, the B...