By Johamin Inok | BIO

COTABATO CITY—The Government of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) peace panels in a meeting on Jan. 31, vowed to sustain the implementation of their agreements under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

Mohagher Iqbal, Co-Chair of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels, emphasized the ‘renewed sense of urgency’ of the Bangsamoro peace process key players in fulfilling the provisions of the accord.

“We remain steadfast in our resolve to navigate the complexities of this process and challenges with unity and perseverance,” said Iqbal during the panels’ 36th meeting in Davao City.

Signed in March 2014, the CAB is the concluding peace accord between the GPH and the MILF, which halted their decades-long armed struggle.

“Each agenda item before us today represents a crucial step in our collective efforts to sustain peace, strengthen our institutions, and fulfill the promises we have made to our people,” Iqbal, who is also the Bangsamoro Government’s Minister of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education, continued.

Cesar Yano, Co-Chair of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels, expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos (PBBM) Jr. regarding the latter’s unwavering support for a lasting, conflict-free Bangsamoro region.

“The President has demonstrated, time and again, his determination to help uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people, particularly the MILF combatants and their families who can now look ahead to a better and brighter future,” Yano stated

The discussions centered on the Monitoring and Evaluation System for Normalization of the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), Framework for the Transition Plan for the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs), GPH-MILF Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) Roadmap, Proposed Revitalization of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), Key Concerns on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), and Localization of Normalization Implementation (LNI) intervention, among others.

In 2023, PBBM stressed the contribution of the autonomous region in the Philippines, saying, “Through the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), we have strengthened the nation’s prospects for finally achieving sustainable progress anchored on a true and lasting peace in Southern Philippines.”

Sustaining and improving peace, justice, and security across the Bangsamoro region is the 11th priority agenda of Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim. (BIO with reports from OPAPRU)