MALACAÑANG PALACE, MANILA (13 August 2022) — Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for making the Bangsamoro a top priority of his administration.

This, as the President led the oath-taking on Friday of the new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in a ceremony held attended by top national and Bangsamoro government officials.

The BTA is the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“This occasion, Mr. President, demonstrates your strong resolve and firm commitment to move forward the Bangsamoro peace process,” Galvez said.

“Through your decisive action, you are ensuring the completion of the implementation of all signed Bangsamoro peace agreements, which is the centerpiece of your administration’s peace policy agenda,” he added.

Galvez noted the appointment of new members to the BTA gives flesh to the President’s peace agenda, “which underscores the importance of inclusivity and equal representation in governance.”

“As you have emphasized, Mr. President, no one should be left behind in the peacebuilding  and development process. Everyone should have a role to play and must benefit from the dividends of peace and economic progress,” he said.

New BTA and BARMM government as ‘The United BARMM’

The Peace Adviser also emphasized the presence of two Moro groups are included in the BTA members, “it has been a long time since the MNLF and the MILF have split but now in your administration, they are one in pushing for sustainable peace and development in the Bangsamoro.”

“With the joining of the MNLF and the MILF, and with the ‘balanced’ and fair/equitable composition of the 39 GPH nominees… this is now no longer just the BTA of the old BARMM but the BTA of a ‘United BARMM,'” Galvez emphasized.

The participation of the the MNLF particularly under the leadership of Chair Nur Misuari is a product of the convergence effort of the OPAPRU to harmonize the Bangsamoro peace agreements: 1976 Tripoli, 1996 Final Peace Agreements, and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Among those new members of the BTA, Abdulkarim Misuari and Nurrheda Misuari, son and daughter of Chair Misuari.

The joining of the MNLF of Chair Nur Misuari with the MILF-led BTA is auspicious and heralds a significant step towards unity in the BARMM. ###

[PHOTO | Courtesy of RTVM]