President Marcos Meets With MILF Execs To Sustain Peace, Stability In Mindanao

MANILA, Nov 7 (NNN-PNA) -- President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr on Friday met with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders at Malacanan Palace in Manila to discuss steps to achieve lasting peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

Marcos met with MILF chairperson Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim to sustain the peace efforts and advance the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

The meeting followed the historic opening of the first Bangsamoro Parliament, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation between the government and the MILF in ensuring peace and stability in the region.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the President is pursuing long-term peace in BARMM through dialogue, trust, and cooperation with the MILF.

Castro said the government and the MILF agreed to continue working together to address challenges in implementing the peace agreement and ensure that no commitment is left unfulfilled.

“Because genuine peace is measured not only by the absence of armed conflict but also by the presence of safe communities, decent livelihoods, unity, genuine progress, and the hope of passing these achievements on to the new generation,” she said.

“This initiative between the government and the MILF is not merely about fulfilling an agreement. It is also about providing a brighter future for families who have long yearned for peace, security, and the opportunity to live in harmony,” Castro added.

During the meeting, Ebrahim reaffirmed the MILF’s commitment to continuing the peace process, ensuring the full implementation of the CAB.

Both sides also discussed programs that would improve the living conditions of the Bangsamoro communities.

Another key agenda was the completion of the fourth and final phase of the decommissioning process for MILF combatants by 2027.

The government and the MILF also committed to fulfilling their remaining obligations and signing the exit agreement before the end of Marcos’ term.

The PCO emphasised that lasting peace in the Bangsamoro is essential to promoting unity, stability, and development in Mindanao.

It said sustained dialogue and cooperation between the government and the MILF would help create more opportunities for investments, employment, and economic growth in the region. 

--NNN-PNA