MANILA — The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panels vowed anew to push forward and build on the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process.

This commitment was contained in a joint statement issued by the GPH and MILF Peace Panels following a meeting held between top officials of both parties on Friday, June 3

The panels were led by their respective chairpersons – Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Undersecretary David Diciano for the GPH side and Mohagher Iqbal for the MILF side.

“The meeting was marked with mutual trust, sincerity and commitment to collaboratively work towards the continued implementation of the peace agreement, including the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that will benefit all peoples in the Bangsamoro,” the joint statement read.

According to the statement, the parties agreed on “several action points/resolutions bearing in mind the spirit of continuity, stability, and sustainability of the peace dividends in view of the developments in the Bangsamoro peace process.”

The action points include the recommendation to resolve the status of the International Monitoring Team (IMT); the continued discussion of the socioeconomic programs for decommissioned MILF combatants; the reconstitution of the working group for vulnerable sectors which was created by both panels; for the Study Group to submit its report on the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) program to the (JNC), and for the JNC to submit the said report to the Implementing Panels; to study the GPH Panel’s proposal to include the the Bangsamoro government’s Ministry of Public Order and Safety in the disbandment of private armed groups.

Other action points include the agreement of both parties on the inclusion of humanitarian reasons as among the qualifications in the granting of safe conduct passes to MILF personalities pending the effectivity of the amnesty process; the parties also agreed to create a technical working group for the police force for the Bangsamoro that will make recommendations including the drafting of executive issuances; the Panels also advised the joint TWG on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) to also invite international experts to provide advice on the crafting of the TJR roadmap; for the MILF Panel to provide comments on the draft declaration of continuity; and the conduct of a special meeting with the Third Party Facilitator before the current administration’s term ends.

The peace panels also expressed their “mutual commitment to pursue dialogue through a problem-solving approach to the remaining issues on the implementation of the Normalization Process to ensure inclusive solutions for the interest and welfare of all Bangsamoro.”

The panels likewise reaffirmed their commitment to the GPH-MILF peace process, saying that “the path to peace and the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and BOL remain as the only viable solution in achieving durable peace and development in the Bangsamoro.”

“As such, the parties acknowledge their responsibilities to work in the spirit of partnership and with earnest optimism and commitment to faithfully implement the peace agreement,” the joint statement added.

The peace panels also thanked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, “under whose leadership and firm resolve to a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified and the Bangsamoro Government was established” and to Galvez and the MILF leadership for their “unwavering commitment to pursue the implementation of the CAB and BOL.”

The panels also lauded the efforts of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) and the Inter-cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) for their “steadfast support towards achieving peace and development in the Bangsamoro; and to the members of the different peace process mechanisms for their perseverance and invaluable contribution to the Bangsamoro peace process despite challenges brought by the pandemic.”

MILF Chair and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency Region 2 on Monday, June 6, said he is hopeful that the administration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “will continue the implementation of the [Bangsamoro] peace agreement.”

“We have already started na magkaroon ng connection with the new administration, we are hoping that within this month or next month, we’ll be able to have a closer engagement with the new incoming administration,” Ebrahim added.

For his part, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said the dividends of the Bangsamoro peace process are now being felt not only in Mindanao but throughout the country.

“Major milestones have been achieved in the Bangsamoro peace process during the Duterte Administration, particularly in the implementation of the CAB and BOL. It is our hope and prayer that the incoming administration will sustain these gains as we move towards healing and reconciliation,” Galvez said.  ###