PEACE PROCESS. Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. delivers a report on the peace process during the kick-off event of the 2019 National Peace Consciousness Month at the Quezon City Memorial Circle in Quezon City on Monday (Sept. 2, 2019). Galvez highlighted the Bangsamoro peace process achievements such as the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. (OPAPP photo)
MANILA -- Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. lauded the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for its resolve to push forward the Bangsamoro peace process.
“Kagagaling ko lang po ng Cotabato para sa decommissioning. Mayroon po sa kanila (MILF), naka-wheelchair. (I just came from Cotabato for decommissioning. Many of them are wheelchair-bound),” Galvez said in his State of the Peace process Report during the opening of National Peace Consciousness Month at Quezon City Memorial Circle, Quezon City on Monday (Sept. 2).
“Pero ‘yung nararamdaman po nila, masayang-masaya po sila. Sabi nila, ‘at least buhay kami na naabutan namin ang peaceful resolution ng Bangsamoro conflict (But they are really happy. They said ‘at least we are still alive, we were able to witness the peaceful resolution of Bangsamoro conflict),” he added.
He noted this milestone is the product of 22 years of peace negotiations between the national government and the MILF, which spanned decades and several administrations.
“These achievements signal the start of a new and exciting chapter in the Bangsamoro people’s history,” Galvez said.
“Finally, our Moro brothers and sisters are taking the lead in charting their region’s economic and political future,” he added.
Decommissioning as symbol of peace
Preparations are underway for the public launching of the decommissioning of MILF combatants and their weapons on September 7.
Around 1,060 MILF combatants and 920 weapons will be decommissioned in ceremonies to be held in the municipality of Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao.
No less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and other high-ranking government officials are expected to witness the landmark event.
“Itong decommissioning ay napaka importante dahil ito ay sisimbolo ng katahimikan sa Mindanao. Ang MILF ang magiging ehemplo, na makikita natin na ang buong Mindanao ay magbebenepisyo (This decommissioning is very important because this is the symbol of peace in Mindanao. The MILF will serve as example that we will see the whole of Mindanao will benefit),” Galvez said.
The theme of this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month is “Tapang at Malasakit para sa Kapayapaan,” with the hashtags #FilipinosforPeace and #PilipinoParasaKapayapaan.
Normalization on track
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles reported that the normalization program for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao is proceeding as planned, as he emphasized the need to maintain its momentum.
“I would like to encourage the continued support of the concerned agencies to ensure coordination so that we can mobilize swiftly towards the implementation of the normalization program and ensure support for the different modalities and mechanisms of normalization,” Nograles said.
Nograles co co-chairs the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) with Galvez.
The ICCMN was created in June of this year to consolidate and harmonize the efforts of national government agencies in line with the implementation of the Normalization Track.
Galvez said the successful decommissioning of MILF combatants will be the key in addressing situations of conflict in Mindanao, and convincing other armed groups to return to the folds of the law.
“When we talked to the MILF, ‘yung mga BIFF at saka mga Abu Sayyaf, pag nakita nila na maganda ang kinalabasan ng normalisasyon at decommissioning, ay talagang magbababa na rin sila ng mga baril (the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Abu Sayyaf, if they will see good results of the normalization and decommission, they will also really lay down their arms),” he said.
During the event, Galvez cited other key milestones in the Bangsamoro peace process such as the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
He also highlighted the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 which institutionalizes the “Whole-Of-Nation” Approach in addressing the communist insurgency, as well as the signing of the Clarificatory Implementing Agreement between the Philippine Government and the Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group.
Galvez also reported the national government continues to hold dialogues with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as part of its commitment to engage all Moro fronts.
Galvez and Nograles led the ringing of the World Peace Bell to wrap up the kick-off event also attended by Abdulkarim Misuari, Hatimil Hassan from the MNLF and other peace partners.
The World Peace Bell was installed at the Quezon Memorial Circle in 1994 after it was donated by the World Peace Bell Association, a Japanese organization that promotes peace-building initiatives across the globe.
The Philippines is the first in Southeast Asia to receive a Bell from the organization. (PR)
