Underscoring his commitment to attaining lasting peace and development in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed to carry out all signed peace agreements with various rebel groups, not only in Mindanao but throughout the nation.
“Rest assured that you can depend on this Administration to implement all signed peace agreements for the security, [the] inclusive progress, and stability not only in Mindanao but throughout [our] country,” President Marcos said during the opening in Malacañang of the National Peace Consciousness Month (NPCM) and the commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) at the Malacañan Palace on Monday.
“The peace processes with former revolutionary organizations such as the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army, and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group – now known as KAPATIRAN, are now in the advanced stages of implementation,” the President pointed out.
The government is also implementing the Transformation Program to uplift the socio-economic conditions of MNLF combatants, their families, and communities, Marcos said, urging various sectors to continue working closely with all stakeholders in the region towards accountable, transparent, and people-centered governance in the Bangsamoro.
The President also encouraged those involved to engage in an open and constructive dialogue with government instrumentalities to discuss the experiences and challenges of the people in Mindanao to come up with responsive policies.
At the same time, the President called on the MNLF and other stakeholders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible conduct of the first Bangsamoro elections next year.
“The forthcoming election is an important reminder not only of the democracy that empowers us to mold our destinies but also of the visionaries who paved the way for the freedom that we [all] relish today,” he said.
The 1996 Final Peace Agreement serves as the main policy framework for the government to implement the 1976 Tripoli Agreement. It has two phases: the integration of MNLF members into the AFP and PNP, and the implementation of individual and community-level interventions to deliver peace dividends.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) engages with two primary MNLF groups: the faction led by founding Chairman Nur Misuari and the group led by BARMM Minister of Labor and Employment Datu Muslimin Sema.
The NPCM, on the other hand, is observed annually to raise awareness and understanding of the comprehensive peace process, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 675, s. 2004.
With the theme: “Peace Month @ 20: Bagong Pilipinas—Transforming Minds, Transforming Lives,” Monday’s event aims to honor 20 years of peace activism and the 28th Anniversary of the 1996 FPA with the MNLF. PND
