With the ballots cast and the returns being counted, let us all congratulate ourselves for what we have accomplished on May 9 as a people, and as a nation. (more…)
I join the Christian faithful as we commemorate the resurrection of the Prince of Peace. (more…)
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte officially approved on 03 March 2022 the proposal to maintain the current composition of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). (more…)
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh!
May the peace and mercy of The Almighty be upon us all.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF COVID-19) extends its warmest greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters as you celebrate this year’s Eid al-Adha or ‘Feast of Sacrifice,’ which marks the conclusion of the annual Hajj or holy pilgrimage in the blessed land of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (more…)
This is in response to International Alert Philippines’ press release entitled “Normalization process fails to normalize Mindanao — Alert Philippines” which stated that the normalization process “is in bad shape” and a “complete mess” due to the recent spate of attacks perpetrated by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao. (more…)
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process condemns in the strongest terms the series of attacks carried out by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the latest of which occurred yesterday in the town of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.
This brazen assault on communities while our Muslim brothers and sisters are observing the holy month of Ramadan shows the true nature of the BIFF — it does not hold anything sacred, and will not hesitate to use armed force to promote their distorted ideology.
Clearly, the group’s only intention is to sow violence, anger and division among the Bangsamoro people. And as residents face the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, these attacks further heighten their sense of fear, distrust and insecurity.
We must not allow these incidents to happen. They are not only attacks against our people and their communities, but are a direct assault against the basic principles that govern a democratic, lawful and peace-loving society.
And we can only do this if we are united as a people. We would therefore like to call on all sectors of society to come together and confront this menace that is before us. Regardless of our tribe or religion, we are all in this together.
The best way to defeat these terror groups is to make their cause irrelevant, especially among those who support them. We therefore need to create an environment where sustainable development and long-lasting peace can take root.
History has shown us that armed struggle cannot resolve the issues confronting the Bangsamoro. It is only by laying down our arms and engaging in peaceful dialogue that we shall be able to uplift the lives of the people whom we profess to fight for.
Our agency is closely monitoring the situation on the ground and is coordinating with the security sector to ensure that these incidents are prevented at all costs and residents are kept safe and secure.
We would like to assure our countrymen that the government will exert all efforts necessary so that these peace spoilers will not succeed, and make them realize that such attacks will not dampen our collective resolve to bring just and lasting peace in the Bangsamoro.
END
The Government Implementing Panel on the GPH-MILF Peace Accord strongly condemns the series of armed attacks perpetuated by the BIFF in Maguindanao as this is an outright offense and violation of the Bangsamoro people’s right to collective security especially during this holy month of Ramadan. (more…)
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you.
Ramadan Mubarak! (more…)
