AFP 'serious' in supporting Bangsamoro peace process

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 12, 2024): AFP 'serious' in supporting Bangsamoro peace process (By Priam Nepomuceno)

COMMITMENT TO PEACE. Participants from various sectors, including the military, represented by AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (8th from right) pose for a photo during the "Recommitment Ceremony towards a Vibrant Bangsamoro" in Taguig City on Thursday (Jan. 11, 2024). The recommitment ceremony comes ahead of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. (Photo courtesy of the AFP)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., joined other stakeholders in reciting a peace covenant on Thursday afternoon, reaffirming their seriousness in supporting the Bangsamoro peace process.

"It is the soldier, more than anyone else, who wants lasting peace and (our participation in this activity) is a manifestation of our commitment towards attaining a lasting peace. We are here to show our brothers in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that we are serious when it comes to the peace process," he said in a statement released by the AFP.

Brawner graced the "Recommitment Ceremony towards a Vibrant Bangsamoro" ceremony that was organized by the Principles for Peace Foundation.

The event also gathered ranking officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao officials; and representatives of various sectors.

OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who was present at the ceremony, accepted the "pledge of commitment or peace covenant" signed by various stakeholders on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr.

Galvez said this initiative, along with other peace efforts, is a welcome development to ensure inclusive cooperation in the collective vision for the meaningful implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreements.

"This pledge of commitment is a testament to our collective determination to help build a more robust peace constituency not only in the region but also in Mindanao," he said in a separate statement also on Thursday night.

Galvez said since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro 10 years ago, the Bangsamoro Parliament has passed five of its priority codes that aim to uplift the people’s socioeconomic conditions and boost the region’s economy – the Administrative Code, Civil Service Code, Electoral Code, Local Government Code, and Education Code.

The third phase of the decommissioning process of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants was also completed last year, he added.

Galvez also noted the Bangsamoro Transition Authority's passage of the BARMM’s PHP100 billion budget for this year, saying it would help spur economic development and reduce poverty incidence in the region.

"We still have a relatively young BARMM government. We also have a region that has just taken the path toward genuine transformation and empowerment. But in the face of difficulties that come our way over the years, we have shown remarkable resilience and steadfast determination to push forward and build on the gains of peace," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216806