A broad coalition of leaders from civil society, academe, labor groups, political parties and business groups, together with sectoral organizations from the Bangsamoro and across Mindanao, has issued an urgent appeal to the Philippine government to address growing concerns affecting the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
The coalition called for, among other key recommendations, the immediate reconstitution of the leadership responsible for managing the national government’s peace process, saying this is necessary to restore credibility, rebuild trust among stakeholders, and ensure effective stewardship of the process at a critical stage of the Bangsamoro transition.
“The Bangsamoro peace process represents decades of hard-won progress,” the coalition said. “Decisive leadership is needed now to ensure that the commitments of the peace agreements are fully honored and that the transition remains on track.”
The coalition warned that recent developments could undermine one of the Philippines’ most significant peace-building achievements and erode the trust built over decades among stakeholders, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), national institutions, and communities across Mindanao.
The breadth of voices behind the appeal—including long-time peace advocates as well as leaders from sectors not traditionally engaged in Bangsamoro issues—reflects the seriousness of the moment, the signatories said.
“Leaders from diverse sectors felt compelled to come together because the stakes are too high,” they said. “Allowing uncertainty or dysfunction to jeopardize the Bangsamoro peace process would place at risk the gains achieved after generations of conflict.”
The appeal was issued shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cited the Philippines’ experience in negotiating the Bangsamoro peace agreement in his remarks last week at the UN General Assembly, in which he described the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as a “living testament” to the transformative power of inclusive peace-building.
The signatories said safeguarding the peace process would not only protect the gains of peace in Mindanao but would also reinforce the Philippines’ credibility as a champion of dialogue and conflict resolution on the international stage.
The Bangsamoro peace process—one of Asia’s most closely watched negotiations—ended decades of armed conflict through dialogue between the Philippine government and the MILF. The resulting Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro paved the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
However, the coalition expressed concern about emerging uncertainties affecting key commitments under the agreement, including developments linked to the normalization track and the region’s ongoing political transition.
The signatories said addressing these challenges would help ensure the successful completion of the peace process within the current administration.
“Completing the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreements would stand as a defining legacy of national leadership and demonstrate that durable peace can be achieved through patience, inclusion, and political courage,” they said.
The statement was endorsed by sectoral organizations from the Bangsamoro and Mindanao as well as leaders from civil society, academe, labor groups, political parties and business groups. Among them are long-time contributors to the peace process, including former members of the government’s peace negotiating panel and a former presidential adviser on the peace process.
The coalition said the message of the signatories is clear: The gains of peace in the Bangsamoro must be protected, and decisive leadership is needed to ensure that the commitments of the peace agreements are fulfilled. —CONTRIBUTED
