Can I greet all our commanders who are here with us today, starting with the Chief of Staff and our camp commander who has given – just gave the briefing to me and all the others, unit heads, unit commanders, good afternoon. Please take your seat.

Well, as you – siguro alam naman ninyo galing lang sa kami sa pagbukas ng transition authority ng Bangsamoro. And that is essentially the agreement that we came to with the different stakeholders in the peace process.

Ang nag-iba ngayon kaysa sa dati, dati ay ang kausap lang natin ay ‘yung MILF. Pero ang nagawa natin this time ay naisama na lahat ng mga stakeholders. Kasama, nandun si Chairman Nur Misuari, nandiyan si Chief Minister Murad, nandiyan lahat ng ating members ng ano, ng transition authority.

At the membership, I think, have been able to find at least a good mix for bringing all the different families, the different tribes, even the political leadership.

At alam naman natin that the political leadership and the tribes, tribal leadership, and the MI, and the MN, they do not see eye to eye at the very beginning.

But we have been able to show them the way forward, that hindi na talaga pwede na patuloy na lang nang patuloy ang laban at dapat naman para… Kawawa naman ang tao. Dapat eh matigil na ang putukan para naman mapaganda natin ang southern Philippines at ang Mindanao doon sa tinatawag na dating conflict areas.

And I bring this up to you to explain that perhaps the mission of – not only the political leadership but also the mission of the military here is going to change. And that will be because I am hoping that we can look forward to a period of lasting peace and progress.

If we are able to do that, we are able to support. Kung dati natin silang nilalabanan, they are still learning how to become a government. And we must give them a chance to learn how to become a government. We should help them.

‘Yung mga dati nga nating kumakalaban sa Pilipinas, kumakalaban sa atin, kumakalaban sa inyo, ay ngayon naman ay mas magiging maayos for everyone involved. Na kung tayo ay magtulungan at tulungan natin sila, para – so that the functions of government will become ordinary in BARMM.

Ngayon, extraordinary pa eh. ‘Yung bago pa eh. Kaya’t sana makarating tayo sa araw na ‘yan na pangkaraniwan na ang pang-araw-araw na patakbo ng gobyerno ng BARMM.

‘Yun ang role palagay ko is – the military is to support the peace, that is the peace process, that is what the peace process is now, and that is what we need to continue to support. Also for the military and…

Meron pa rin diyan mga tiwalag. There are still certain groups. I’m sure you’re aware of them. There are still extremist groups na wala ng ideology, banditry na lang. Hindi na sila nag-uusap tungkol sa – they don’t talk of the religion, of ideology. Basta’t nagki-kidnap na lang, gumagawa na lang ng gulo, murder for hire, ‘yung mga ganyan.

‘Yun, nandiyan pa rin ang threat sa inyo diyan, kaya’t you cannot let your guard down also. You have to stay vigilant and stay careful so that this peace process, hindi naman pumutok ito. And pagka may nangyari, eh tigil lahat. We will have to start again and talk to everybody again.

But if you can keep the peace in your areas then that will be a big, big, big help para sa ating peacekeeping process.

I think that the… I have always remember ang once — of an officer during the strategic planning of an operation was blamed, was accused by a politician. And he said: “The problem with you soldiers is you all want war.” At sinagot siya: “We are the last people to want war. The military is going to have to fight your war. The military is going to have to bleed and die for your war. We are the peacemakers. We do not want war.”

I think that is still true and I think that is a guide that we can follow. I’m very happy to be able to visit with you. I’m very happy that I had this opportunity on this historic day to be with you and I know that you will all keep up the good work that we know, you have been doing, and you keep up the good work.

And although your roles may have change. Kahit na medyo nagbago nang konti ang trabaho ninyo, I know that you will adjust and you will excel as you always do.

Thank you and good afternoon. [applause]

— END —

SOURCE: OPS-PND (Presidential News Desk)