Bangsamoro coalition commits to peace agreements

The BARMM Grand Coalition has indicated its commitment to the peace agreements reached between the national government and the two Moro fronts as it prepares for the elections in the autonomous region in 2025.

In a statement, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan said the peace agreements had "given a legacy of peace to our people and the world."

“The BARMM is a strong testament to how a longstanding conflict can be transformed into an enduring peace, and how communities can continue working together in sustaining said peace through efforts to uphold justice for all,” Tan said.

The Bangsamoro Peoples Party (BPP), the Al Ittihad-UKB Party, and the Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) Party signed a commitment to form the BGC in April.

The coalition is fielding Tan as its candidate for chief minister in 2025.

“The most important thing is to assure that our former combatants can feel the fruits of their struggle with the support of the regional and national governments, as their quality of life improves along with the enjoyment of just and lasting peace in the region,” Tan said.

 “This is only possible through collaborative governance that encourages a multi-party, multi-sectoral approach to leadership, and the BGC is more than ready to lead the way,” he added.

In March 2023, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority passed the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, which will allow democratic participation in the local and regional elections.

It would also open the creation of political parties in the region with representations from women, youth, indigenous people, settler communities, traditional leaders, and the Ulama.

The first-ever election in the Bangsamoro Region was scheduled to be conducted in May 2022 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 Tan said the BGC is committed to working with the national government in pursuing policies and programs needed to protect the peace that the Bangsamoro people have won in the region, starting with the full implementation of all signed peace agreements.

 The coalition has committed to allocate funds from the BARMM Special Development Fund and Block Grant to support and expedite the normalization process for former combatants of both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“The most important thing is to assure that our former combatants can feel the fruits of their struggle with the support of the regional and national governments, as their quality of life improves along with the enjoyment of just and lasting peace in the region,” Tan said.

 “This is only possible through collaborative governance that encourages a multi-party, multi-sectoral approach to leadership, and the BGC is more than ready to lead the way," he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News