05/07/2025
Honoring Commitments, Sustaining Peace: The Bangsamoro’s Appeal for Full and Sincere Implementation of Peace Agreements in the Bangsamoro
In the journey of the Bangsamoro struggle, the milestones of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) stand as pillars of the hard-won but fragile peace in Mindanao. The recent Resolution No. 2/51-MM on the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines, issued by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during its 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, is a timely and crucial reminder to both the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (M**F) that the work of peace is far from over.
The OIC’s call for the quick and full implementation of both the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the CAB is not a mere diplomatic courtesy; it is an urgent appeal rooted in decades of unfulfilled promises, suffering, and perseverance of the Bangsamoro people. For the M**F, we view this resolution as an affirmation of our enduring pursuit of justice, dignity, and meaningful autonomy—goals that can only be realized when both parties, especially the GPH, act with good intention and genuine political will to translate agreements into tangible realities. The path to a just and lasting peace must be paved with sincerity, not selective implementation.
The OIC correctly emphasizes that while the CAB is a significant step forward, it is only a partial fulfillment of the broader aspirations for comprehensive peace in Mindanao. We, the M**F, share this vision. Peace is not a single agreement nor a symbolic ceremony—it is a process that requires continuity, respect for past commitments, and adherence to the spirit and letter of all signed agreements.
We call on the Government of the Philippines to recognize that each of these agreements—from Tripoli to the CAB—are interconnected commitments that must form the basis of any lasting settlement. Piecemeal implementation or delays risk not only progress but also the fragile trust built over decades of dialogue.
The resolution’s recognition of the frameworks and mechanisms that have sustained the peace process—the International Monitoring Team (IMT), International Contact Group (ICG), Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB)—is an acknowledgment of the essential role of these impartial bodies in ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust. We urge the GPH to continue engaging with these mechanisms until the signing of the crucial Exit Agreement, which symbolizes the full completion of the peace process. The consistent use of these institutions is not just protocol—it is protection against the erosion of trust and the resurgence of conflict.
Furthermore, we echo the OIC’s call for sustained constructive engagement between the GPH and the M**F. Upholding both the letter and the spirit of our peace agreements is not a one-sided responsibility—it is a mutual commitment that demands vigilance, dialogue, and restraint from unilateral actions that could unravel the hard-won gains of peace. All parties must be reminded that every decision, every delay, and every act of goodwill or its absence reverberates deeply in the lives of the Bangsamoro people.
We also stress the critical importance of the normalization process and socio-economic development, which must move hand-in-hand with political reforms. The success of the decommissioning process, tied intrinsically to meaningful livelihood packages and sustainable development, is essential for ensuring that former combatants and conflict-affected communities can fully integrate into a peaceful, dignified, and economically stable society. Delays in these deliverables not only harm the immediate beneficiaries but weaken the very foundation of peace.
Lastly, the call for unity among the leadership of the MNLF, M**F, and other Moro actors is a message that we, as the M**F, take to heart. The divisions of the past must give way to a collective vision for the Bangsamoro, one that transcends organizational identities in favor of the broader welfare of our people. Likewise, the OIC’s emphasis on the importance of continued foreign assistance and the role of international partners is a recognition that peace is a global concern, and the international community must remain engaged until every commitment is fulfilled.
In conclusion, this resolution is more than words on paper—it is a mirror reflecting the unfinished journey of the Bangsamoro towards lasting peace and justice. The M**F remains steadfast in its commitment to this vision. We call upon the Government of the Philippines to meet this commitment with equal sincerity, urgency, and respect, so that the promise of peace becomes not just a political achievement but a lived reality for every Bangsamoro.
©️2025M**FchairmanOfficial
