COTABATO CITY (February 17) — In a region once defined by armed clashes, former foes are now sharing a headquarters.
A newly refurbished operations center for the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) was formally turned over in Cotabato City, marking another visible step in the normalization process under the Bangsamoro peace agreement.
The turnover was led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (Opapru) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, highlighting Norway’s continuing support for peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao.
The JPST is a unique security force composed of members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) — once adversaries on the battlefield, now working side by side to maintain order in communities transitioning from conflict to peace.
The facility upgrade was made possible through the International Organization for Migration’s Stand for Peace Program, funded by the Norwegian government. The program supports normalization initiatives that aim to stabilize former conflict areas and strengthen trust between institutions and communities.
Speaking during the Feb. 12 ceremony, Norwegian Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster said the goal is to ensure that peace is felt not just in signed documents, but in everyday life.
“We are committed to protecting women and girls in conflict situations and to integrating a gender perspective in international missions and operations,” Lyster said, emphasizing that inclusive peace is sustainable peace.
Opapru Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., represented by Director Anna Pacete, described the JPST as a global example of reconciliation in action.
“The establishment of the JPSTs is being hailed globally as a concrete manifestation of reconciliation, mutual respect, and partnership between former adversaries,” Pacete said.
The JPST operates under the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC), jointly overseen by the Philippine government and the MILF. On the ground, the teams help prevent violence, address security concerns, and support communities adjusting to post-conflict governance.
Also present during the turnover were officials from the Joint Normalization Committee, Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation, Bangsamoro Women Commission, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade — groups playing key roles in ensuring that peace efforts extend beyond security to social and institutional transformation.
For many in Cotabato City and across the Bangsamoro region, the refurbished operations center is more than a building upgrade. It is a powerful symbol: peace in Mindanao is no longer just an aspiration — it is being built, reinforced, and operationalized on the ground.
