Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte -- A significant step towards strengthening peace in the Bangsamoro region was taken on February 7, 2025, as 192 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front - Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) successfully completed the Basic Military Training Refresher Course at the 6th Division Training School in Barangay Semba.

This final batch of Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) members to undergo the program, conducted by the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) in collaboration with the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, signifies a crucial step in strengthening the role of JPST members as peacekeepers and peacebuilders within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

 

Brigadier General Donald M. Gumiran, Commander of the 6th Infantry Division, commended the JPST members for their dedication, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining security and stability in the Bangsamoro.

 

"Your role in maintaining peace is vital. With your dedication, we can ensure that every member of the community can live in peace and security without fear,” emphasized Gumiran.

 

BARMM Senior Minister Abunawas Maslamama, Chair of the MILF-JPSC, applauded the graduates, underscoring the strong bond forged between the MILF and its peacekeeping counterparts.

 

"The important thing is that we are united. We have a good partnership with our counterparts, who are more than brothers. We must cherish that relationship. The relationship must be sustained continuously. It shouldn’t be limited to just training,” he stated.

 

The graduates, with their enhanced training in conflict resolution, disaster response, and maintaining peace and order, will continue to play a crucial role in promoting peace, security, and stability across the BARMM.

 

Maj. Gen. Francisco Ariel Felicidario III (retired), Co-Chair of the JPSC, lauded the graduates for their perseverance, focus, and commitment.

 

"Today, we have 192 new defenders of peace ready to fulfill their mission. Their dedication is the foundation of a peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro,” he  said.