Opapru Urges Maguindanao Leaders to Preserve Bangsamoro Peace Gains

COTABATO CITY — Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento on Thursday, July 16, met with local leaders and military officials in the Maguindanao provinces, rallying them to unite and continue working for peace in Mindanao. Sarmiento, who heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) and chairs the Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) for the Bangsamoro Peace Process, emphasized during a gathering at the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division that "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." Opapru, in partnership with the Department of Justice, 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. This initiative is part of a commitment to addressing the root causes of clan conflicts through culturally responsive and legal mechanisms. During the gathering, Major General Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, reiterated 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. He specifically highlighted significant improvements in peace and security in Maguindanao del Sur, attributing these gains to 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. Mayor Datu Nathaniel Midtimbang of Datu Anggal Midtimbang town, speaking on behalf of his father, Governor Ali Midtimbang, expressed the provincial government’s gratitude to Sarmiento, 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." The conference was also attended by representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel and other stakeholders. It concluded 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.