President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has designated Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento to spearhead administration efforts in concluding the historic peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The decision was made public on Wednesday by Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, who announced that Sarmiento will concurrently lead the Government Peace Implementing Panel for the MILF peace negotiations.
In his role as the government’s chief negotiator, Sarmiento is responsible for maintaining close communication and coordinating directly with the MILF’s panel, which is led by Mohagher Iqbal.
Both delegations are tasked with overseeing the execution of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the pivotal 2014 peace accord that brought an end to decades of armed conflict.
Sarmiento’s primary objective will be addressing the remaining components of the agreement, which are divided into political and normalization pathways. This involves the intricate task of decommissioning MILF fighters and decommissioning their weapons, along with providing socio-economic assistance packages to former combatants and their families.
Additionally, the panel will oversee programs dedicated to transitional justice, reconciliation, and the redevelopment of areas formerly impacted by the conflict.
The 2014 peace pact paved the way for the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which subsequently established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019 to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Although the regional government has been fully functional for several years, multiple facets of the normalization program have yet to be completed.
Sarmiento’s leadership is anticipated to inject fresh energy into finalizing the gradual disarmament of the group and implementing the crucial socio-economic initiatives necessary to maintain permanent stability in the region.