COTABATO CITY (September 28) — The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have renewed their commitment to completing the Bangsamoro peace agreement, with both sides acknowledging that major political, security and normalization commitments remain unfinished.
The two peace implementing panels issued the commitment after a special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they signed six agreements aimed at sustaining implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
In a joint statement released through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the panels thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for what they described as his “unwavering commitment” to the peace process.
The panels said the President’s support has helped maintain momentum in both the political and normalization tracks of the agreement.
GPH Peace Implementing Panel chairperson Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, who also heads OPAPRU, said the administration’s continued support enabled the two sides to reach the six agreements.
Among the documents signed were a joint statement of the two panels; renewals of the mandates of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group until Sept. 25, 2027, and the Civilian Protection Component until Sept. 25, 2028; and terms of reference for a technical working group tasked with developing a roadmap for implementing the CAB.
The panels also signed an addendum covering the socioeconomic development program for decommissioned MILF combatants and the six previously acknowledged MILF camps.
Another agreement involved proposed enhancements to legislation creating a National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro, following a resolution of the technical working group on transitional justice and reconciliation.
The agreements extend mechanisms and work already underway, but they also underscore how much of the peace process still requires sustained implementation.
On security, the panels agreed in principle to a proposed GPH-MILF Framework for the Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program and directed the concerned technical working group to finalize it.
Discussions will also continue on the proposed revitalization of the International Monitoring Team and recommendations for putting weapons beyond use.
For the MILF, the remaining work is closely tied to whether the promises of normalization will reach former combatants and their families.
MILF Peace Implementing Panel chairperson Mohagher Iqbal said the group remains committed to resolving outstanding issues peacefully.
“Much has been achieved. Important commitments remain,” Iqbal said, stressing that the task is to “finish what we started” so that former combatants and their families can see the promise of normalization fulfilled in their lifetime.
The Kuala Lumpur agreements therefore provide another implementation checkpoint for the GPH-MILF peace process—but their significance will ultimately depend on how quickly the commitments are translated into completed programs, functioning mechanisms and tangible improvements in the lives of communities affected by decades of conflict.
