12 Years After Peace Deal, Violence Still Stalks Bangsamoro

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Twelve years after a landmark peace agreement, the eradication of violence in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao remains a significant challenge. According to a report by the International Crisis Group, despite the end of the conflict, clan feuds (rido), political rivalries, and criminal networks continue to flourish in the region, with institutions meant to maintain peace remaining weak. The report highlights the region's fragile security system's heavy dependence on the military. Weak policing and justice institutions have left soldiers carrying much of the burden of maintaining order, contradicting the government's aim to shift military focus from counterinsurgency to external defense. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), established in 2019, continues to grapple with an unstable security environment. Progress in curbing violence has been uneven, with clan feuds, electoral rivalries, and criminal activities posing greater threats than fighting between the state and militant groups. Over a third of young people in the region have experienced armed conflict in or near their homes since 2019, with local conflict watchdogs recording hundreds of incidents. Easy access to firearms fuels recurring cycles of violence, and key provisions of the peace agreement, such as the disarmament of former rebels and redeployment of troops, remain incomplete. Economically, while kidnapping for ransom has decreased, smuggling, including of weapons, has proliferated. Human trafficking and drug trafficking also remain concerns. The police estimate that the region has over 27,000 unregistered firearms. The functioning of police and justice institutions is also lacking. BARMM communities often view the police as weaker, more politicized, and less dependable than the military. The region's institutions for dispute resolution and justice also face challenges, including political infighting, limited resources, and poor access to courts. With the region's parliamentary elections approaching, rival political blocs and local elites may enlist armed groups to intimidate voters or disrupt the ballot, potentially aggravating tensions in areas where land, political, and clan disputes remain unresolved. The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ceasefire mechanisms must maintain vigilance and close coordination to protect peace, prevent confrontation, and address tensions before they escalate, it was emphasized.