MALACAÑANG PALACE, JULY 5, 2023 — Top officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) met with the top brass of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen the law enforcement operations and close coordination to sustain the peace and order situation in the BARMM.

BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim and Maguindanao del Norte governor Abdulraof Macacua held a meeting with PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Sec. Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr., and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. here in Malacanang on Tuesday. The meeting was initiated by SAP Sec Lagdameo in compliance with the instruction of the President to get the BARMM leadership involved in the maintenance of peace and order in the Muslim Mindanao region.

SAP Lagdameo emphasized the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., to sustain and protect the gains of the peace process in Mindanao.

He said continued strong collaboration among parties will help address the security situation in the region.

Galvez said there will be a series of command conferences on the ground to brief the military and police commanders, especially those under the Western Mindanao Command (WMC), the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) to make sure that all parties are on the same page regarding law enforcement operations and other security coordination.

For its part, the leadership of the BARMM has also vowed to help and support the security sector in the fight against criminal groups, and other illegal activities in the region.

Ebrahim, who is also the Central Committee chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said that the BARMM plays a crucial role in assisting law enforcement and maintaining peace and order in the region.

He emphasized that complete respect and mutual trust had been long established between the security sector and the MILF.

He said the parties have been religiously and strictly following the protocols of the security mechanism such as the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group or AHJAG to address lawless elements in the region. The AHJAG is the cooperative mechanism between the government and the MILF that responds to criminality and terrorism in areas with MILF presence.

Murad emphasized that the protocols should be respected and followed at all times as proven in the past.

Acorda ensured that police operations are guided with accurate intelligence, fair judgment, and strict legal process.

The Chief PNP, who was formerly assigned in Northern Mindanao, said one way to solve criminality is by building good relationships with the community. He said he had engaged former commanders of the MILF such as Commander Abdullah Goldiano Makapaar, now a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, in interdicting lawless elements.

He said the PNP and the MILF has established a good relationship in his area of jurisdiction by carrying out sportfest among the two organizations, and provision fingerlings and other livelihood programs.

According to Galvez, the parties have agreed to closely work together to ensure peace and stability in the Muslim region.

“Our main objective here is to collectively work together and guarantee the peace in the BARMM,” he said.

“Under the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and SAP Lagdameo, it is very important to have a greater sense of security as the BARMM is in the transition process,” he said.

The BARMM was created through the Bangsamoro Organic Law following the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) nine years ago.

Part of the implementation of the peace agreement is the Normalization Track which includes the security component that deals with the decommissioning of the MILF combatants and their weapons, the disbandment of private armed groups, managing the number of small arms and light weapons throughout the BARMM, and the strict implementation of loose firearms. These are all being done simultaneously.

During the meeting, the parties also agreed to complete the decommissioning process of the remaining combatants. To date, more than 24,000 out of the 40,000 combatants have successfully been decommissioned. It is projected for decommissioning process to be completed before the first election in the BARMM in 2025.

The Independent Decommissioning Body, which is composed of foreign experts and members of the government and MILF, oversees the decommissioning process.

Galvez said the decommissioning process is not only limited to the physical aspect of putting the firearms beyond use but more importantly is the changing of the mindset that requires a complete transformation process from being a combatant into a peaceful and productive civilian.

“Collaborative efforts among all sectors of the society – local leaders, civil society, among others — are crucial to help address criminality, achieve settlements among feuding clans, and other conflicts in the BARMM,” the Presidential Peace Adviser said.

He said the greater synergies are needed as what Albay’s 2nd Rep Joey Salceda said to “unlock the dividends of peace.” ###