PASIG CITY (17 AUGUST 2022) – Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. is confident the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will be able to pass its Bangsamoro Election Code by the end of this year.

Galvez said this is based on an assurance given to him by BTA Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Balawag Ebrahim during a recent conversation he had with the top Bangsamoro official.

“Ang sabi po ng [BARMM] Chief Minister, ‘yung Election Code ay maipapasa po before 2022 ends. They are very confident na kayang-kaya nilang ipasa po ang remaining codes in due time,” he bared in a press briefing of the Office of the Press Secretary on Wednesday.

“Ang ginagawa po nga namin ng Chief Minister with the BTA members na matapos ‘to sa madaling panahon, especially itong Election Code, before 2022,” Galvez added.

Remaining priority codes

Aside from the Election Code, the BTA, the interim Bangsamoro government is expected to pass its remaining priority codes such as the Local Government, Revenue, and Indigenous Peoples Codes before the end of the three-year extended transition period in 2025.

The peace adviser emphasized that the completion of the priority codes will be crucial in establishing the foundations of a more responsive, inclusive and people-centered Bangsamoro government.

“Ang guidance po galing sa mahal na Presidente ay tapusin na ang apat na remaining codes na ito. Itong apat na Code na ito ay napakahalaga po lalong-lalo na sa instruction ng ating Presidente na we have to prepare for the 2025 election,” Galvez said.

“[Chief Minister Ebrahim] said that they are very confident that they will pass the Election Code before the end of 2022 in order for us to prepare for 2023 to 2024. Ibig sabihin, mas uunahin nila yung Election Code to give way for the preparation for 2025,” he added.

During the oath-taking of newly-appointed BTA members last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stressed that the extension of the BTA’s term of office from 2022 to 2025 was meant to give the body more time to complete its deliverable under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Galvez said that the the appointment of the new BTA members is “not just a historic event but also a symbolic one.”

He noted that the Bangsamoro peace process started during the term of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., and “hopefully, [we] will be completing and realizing under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the dividends of the peace process.”

Galvez is set to meet with key Bangsamoro stakeholders and officials in Mindanao in the coming days upon the marching order of the President to fully support the BARMM Government in completing the implementation of all signed Bangsamoro peace agreements.

Amnesty for former rebels

With President Marcos throwing his full support behind the comprehensive Philippine peace process, Galvez cited the peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts being carried out by the government throughout the country.

These include the granting of amnesty to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) and Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who have committed crimes due to their political beliefs.

In February 2021, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Presidential Proclamation Nos. 1090, 1091, 1092, and 1093 in February 2021 that grants amnesty to the rebel groups.

On January 24 of this year, the Senate of the Philippines’ adopted House Concurrent Resolutions Nos. 12, 13, and 14 granting amnesty to members of the MILF, MNLF, and the RPMP-RPA-ABB, respectively.

The said proclamations are in line with Executive Order 125 that created the National Amnesty Commission (NAC), the body that will oversee the processing and granting of amnesty to the former rebels.

As to the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), Galvez earlier urged the Senate to provide its concurrence to Presidential Proclamation 1093, which grants amnesty to members of the communist group.

According to Galvez, around 8,000 to 10,000 members coming from the MNLF, MILF, and RPA-ABB are expected to apply for amnesty.

Of the 26,414 surrenderees from the CPP-NPA-NDF, around 1,500 individuals with pending cases are also expected to apply for amnesty.

Meanwhile, Galvez urged active members of the CPP-NPA-NDF to lay down their arms and return to the fold of law.

The OPAPRU is pushing for the conduct of Local Peace Engagements (LPE) among local government units, as it is considered the most effective way in addressing the decades-long communist insurgency.

“Yun pong panawagan po natin is talagang kung pwede po talagang magkaroon na po ng katahimikan dito sa Pilipinas. And we are also encouraging all CPP-NPA members also will talk with us at sa ating NTF ELCAC (National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict). ‘Yun din pong NTF-ELCAC kasama‘yung ating mga lokal peace engagement na napaka epektibo na makatulong po sa dismantle ng 60 NPA Guerilla Fronts since we established the whole of nation and whole of government approach through EO number 70 which is the creation of the NTF-ELCAC” he said. ###