PASAY CITY (27 March 2023) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., lauded the remarkable progress made under the political and normalization tracks of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

In a video message aired during the commemoration of the CAB’s 9th Anniversary, President Marcos commended the Bangsamoro Government, which is being led by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), for the agreement’s successful implementation.

“Under our administration, the political and normalization tracks of the peace agreement continue to gain momentum. Our partners in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) continue to deliver on their commitments in both tracks with the recent passing of the critical Bangsamoro Electoral Code,” the President said.

The Chief Executive vowed that the commitments made by the national government under the CAB will be realized.

“We in the national government will do our part to fulfil our commitments under the peace agreements and see its full implementation. We shall not waver from this,” President Marcos said.

BARMM’s Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim highlighted the importance of the occasion, especially to his people.

“This occasion today marks a significant milestone in the history of the Bangsamoro people and our continued pursuit of long-lasting peace and progress in our homeland,” Ebrahim said.

He emphasised that the occasion is a result of the Bangsamoro people’s continuous quest for genuine peace and sustainable development in the region.

“May we all be reminded that this political settlement is not the end of the Bangsamoro narrative but rather a continuation of our lifelong quest for justice, peace, and progress,” Ebrahim said.

Government of the Philippines Implementing Panel Chair Cesar B. Yano called on the Filipino people to continue supporting the Bangsamoro peace process.

“Today is not just a day for reflection but it also challenges us to provide all our support to move forward with the renewed vigour and unwavering determination to uplift the Bangsamoro towards the realisation of genuine autonomy within a thriving democratic society.”

MILF Implementing Panel Chair Min. Mohagher Iqbal emphasised one of the many fruits of the CAB, “what we now enjoy as Bangsamoro government are peace dividends rising out of honouring provisions of the CAB, particularly on the enactment of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and its overwhelming ratification and plebiscite in 2019.”

The CAB is a culmination of 17 years of peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF.

The signing of the CAB led to the establishment of the BARMM and its interim government, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which reflect the dreams and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

Strengthened security in the Bangsamoro

For his part, Senior Undersecretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., office-in-charge of the Department of National Defense (DND), expressed his agency’s full support in securing peace and order in the region.

“[R]est assured that our agency will fully support the CAB’s implementation so that the dividends of peace and development will continue to be felt,” Galvez said.

Galvez stressed that the defense department and the military shall protect the Bangsamoro from peace spoilers.

“The DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines shall be the vanguards of peace and security in the Bangsamoro. We shall not allow the spoilers of peace to negate the gains we have achieved,” he added.

Galvez also gave the assurance that the security sector will ensure the safety and security of residents during the first regular BARMM regional elections in 2025.

“The security sector shall help maintain an environment that is conducive to peace and development, as the Bangsamoro gears up for its first regular regional elections in 2025, which is only two years from now,” he said.

Forum on the prospects in the Bangsamoro

To commemorate the ninth anniversary of the signing of the CAB, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity spearheaded the “Forum on the Progress of Peace: Challenges and Prospects for the Bangsamoro.”

The forum provided a platform for insightful and constructive discussions among stakeholders on emerging peace, security and development-related issues, as well as provide recommendations and ways forward to sustain the gains of peace in the Bangsamoro region.

In his remarks, Acting Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Isidro L. Purisima underscored the importance of this activity, saying, “Today’s forum is an excellent platform wherein the various sectors can come together and help build a stronger and proactive peace constituency. This will be crucial, as we continue to identify and address emerging developmental, governance, and security issues that may affect or influence the future of the Bangsamoro region.”

“[W]e will be able to discuss the lessons learned during the Bangsamoro Government’s transition period, key aspects of the peace agreement, the forthcoming first parliamentary elections of the BARMM in 2025, and other political and security concerns,” Purisima added.

The forum covered four key topics which included Inclusive Growth and Human Development in the Bangsamoro by Dr. Fermin D. Adriano, a fellow of the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF); Salient Features of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code and Prospects for Bangsamoro Elections by Member of Parliament Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba; Inclusive Participation in the BARMM by Prof. Yasmira P. Moner, assistant professor of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s (MSU-IIT) Department of Political Science; and Security Outlook in the Bangsamoro and its Implications for Peace by Prof. Jennifer “Apple” S. Oreta, a professor of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Department of Political Science.

The forum was also attended by Prof. Julkipli M. Wadi, dean of the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies (UP IIS); Ms. Amina Rasul Bernardo, co-founder and president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID); and Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, trustee of the International Crisis Group and former chair of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Also present during the forum were representatives from national government agencies, Congress, Bangsamoro Government, Bangsamoro Transition Authority, local government units, and civil society organizations. ###