BANGSAMORO – In a pivotal update on the Bangsamoro peace process, the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) released its Eighth Public Report in Davao City on November 23, 2023. Tasked with overseeing the implementation of agreements between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the TPMT highlighted significant political progress while urging a swifter pace in the normalization track.
Covering developments from February 2022 to October 2023, the report emphasized positive strides in the political arena. The Bangsamoro parliament’s adoption of the electoral and local governance codes, along with operational inter-governmental relations mechanisms, signifies substantial advancements. Notably, representation of all Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) factions in the Bangsamoro Parliament enhances the foundations for effective self-governance in the BARMM.
However, the report also underscores the need for accelerated performance in the normalization track. While the Independent Decommissioning Body reported nearly completed decommissioning of MILF combatants in August, socio-economic support for these individuals and their communities has been slow. Questions persist about the capacity to accommodate recruits from MILF and MNLF into the PNP, and extensions are required for expired Presidential Proclamations forming the basis for amnesty applications.
The TPMT’s recommendations include a call for joint decisions to maintain mutual trust, a strategic review of achievements, and the focus of the Bangsamoro Parliament on adopting priority codes, notably the Bangsamoro Revenue Code and the Indigenous Peoples Code. Urgent actions are urged in areas such as decommissioning, clarification of recruitment figures into the PNP, and the fast-tracking of amnesty renewal.
The TPMT emphasizes the crucial role of transitional justice at the national level, urging priority status for bills in Congress to establish a National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro. Additionally, a continued role for the International Monitoring Team is proposed for the ceasefire agreement, ensuring confidence in the peace process.
The report emphasizes the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) as the cornerstone for peace in the region, aiming for a unique form of autonomous political entity reflecting the Bangsamoro’s distinct cultural identity. Acknowledging the challenges ahead as the transition phase nears its end in 2025, the TPMT notes positive signs of commitment and increased resources for normalization.
As the region approaches a critical juncture, the TPMT underscores the paramount importance of the continued commitment and sincerity of both Parties for the successful conclusion of the peace process.
For more details, the full TPMT 8th Public Report can be accessed at www.tpmt.ph.
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