Opapru to Maguindanao execs: Preserve gains of Bangsamoro peace process

COTABATO CITY — Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento on Thursday, July 16, met with local leaders and military officials in the Maguindanao provinces and rallied them to unite and continue working for peace in Mindanao.

“Peace in the Bangsamoro requires unity, trust, and ongoing collaboration among the government, the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), local leaders, security forces, and communities,” Sarmiento.

He heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) and chairperson of the Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) for the Bangsamoro Peace Process, told local leaders during a gathering at the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division for the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council Cluster Conference.

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“As we implement the Comprehensive Agreement, we are committed to addressing the root causes of clan conflicts through culturally responsive and legal mechanisms,” he told military officers and political leaders.

The conference was attended by Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Ali Midtimbang and local government leaders. Also in attendance was Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Tocao Mastura.

Sarmiento announced that in partnership with the Department of Justice, Opapru is forming a technical working group to develop community guidelines that blend customary practices with the rule of law, aiming to resolve community-based conflicts through dialogue, reconciliation, and justice.

During the gathering, Major General Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, 6th Infantry Division commander, emphasized the military’s steadfast commitment to working with government agencies, local government units, and peace partners to preserve the hard-earned gains of the peace process.

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He presented to Sarmiento and local political leaders the current security landscape within its area of responsibility, highlighting specifically the significant improvements in peace and security in Maguindanao del Sur.

Cagara emphasized that these gains were made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Army, the police, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, local government units, and the active participation of communities in promoting peace and rejecting violent extremism.

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Mayor Datu Nathaniel Midtimbang of Datu Anggal Midtimbang town, speaking on behalf of his father, Gov. Midtimbang, expressed the provincial government’s gratitude to Sarmiento, to the AFP through 6ID, and all peace stakeholders for initiating the conference, emphasizing that “sustained collaboration remains essential in preserving the prevailing peace and stability in the province.”

Apart from local leaders, also in attendance were representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel and other stakeholders.

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It ended with a ceremonial “Wall of Commitment” signing, symbolizing the participants’ collective pledge to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, uphold the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process, and continue fostering lasting peace, security, and development for the people of Maguindanao del Sur. INQ