The national government is set to formally conclude its long-running peace process with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA), a former armed organization that championed regional autonomy and indigenous rights in the 1980s.
Marking his first 100 days in office during a press conference on Friday, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento welcomed the milestone, noting that key commitments established over the years have largely been met.
The upcoming signing of the Completion Document will shift the focus from implementing terms to sustaining regional peace and development.
“The President announced in his most recent State of the Nation Address that the stage is now set to bring the government’s historic peace process with the CBA-CPLA to its formal and meaningful conclusion after 15 years,” Sarmiento said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. featured the completion of the Cordillera peace process alongside the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections during his July 27 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Sarmiento highlighted that the President’s acknowledgment underscores the administration’s drive to honor existing peace commitments.
“The President’s message is very important because some people ask why the CPLA was mentioned. Peace is a process. From the signing of the agreement, many succeeding agreements had to be signed. If the government had not been serious, we could have abandoned it after the second phase,” he explained.
“The most important message is continuity. Think about how many presidents have served since then. Now the process is finally receiving full attention because of our President,” Sarmiento added. “We want every peace agreement to reach its intended conclusion. Some require acceptance while others require compliance based on the agreed timetable.”
The historic peace initiative traces back to the Mt. Data Peace Accord on September 13, 1986, which ended armed clashes between government troops and the CBA-CPLA. Subsequent milestones followed, including Administrative Order No. 18 in 2001—which integrated CPLA members into the Armed Forces of the Philippines—and the 2011 Closure Agreement focused on normalization, socioeconomic integration, and organizational transformation.
On June 25, both parties signed the Substantial Compliance Agreement, confirming that the core obligations outlined in the 2011 pact had been fulfilled.
“The Cordillera Peace Process is recognized as an exemplary model of genuine commitment and transparency in peacebuilding,” Sarmiento noted. “With the Completion Document, we can expect a stronger, more resilient, and more united Cordillera that is determined to sustain and build on the gains of peace.”
Addressing worries from former combatants about potential neglect after the agreement’s conclusion, Sarmiento reassured them of the administration’s steadfast commitment.
“There is always some concern among those who sign agreements that they will be forgotten afterward. That will not happen. It will not happen because the President follows the mandate of the Constitution,” he stated, noting that OPAPRU actively monitors peace accords with various groups, including the MNLF, MILF, and Kapatiran.
“I want to make this clear. Peace is a process that cannot be achieved overnight. Our agency remains firmly committed to doing things right. True and lasting peace cannot be rushed. It requires years of listening, understanding, and rebuilding together,” Sarmiento concluded.