NEWS
19March
Some of the participants who attended the rally at the Cotabato City Plaza on March 17, 2025
Bangsamoro Movement for Justice expresses concern over national government’s unilateral actions on GPH-MILF Peace Agreement implementation
- Mar 19, 2025
- Muhammad Musa, Luwaran
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The BJM stated that such actions undermine the hard-won gains of the peace process and threaten the stability and progress achieved through years of negotiations.
The BJM manifesto highlighted the exclusion of six MILF-endorsed nominees from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and the appointment of a new Interim Chief Minister, actions that the BJM claimed occurred without proper consultation with the MILF leadership.
They described these decisions as serious violations of the peace agreement, weakening the foundations of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and disregarding the essential principles of trust, mutual respect, and partnership necessary for enduring peace.
The BJM further noted that these unilateral decision risk alienating key stakeholders in the peace process and could create divisions among the Bangsamoro people. “A truly peaceful and inclusive transition requires adherence to the agreements made between the government and the MILF,” the manifesto emphasized.
Participants from Cotabato City and neighboring municipalities at the rally urged the national government to uphold its commitments by fully respecting and implementing the GPH-MILF Peace Agreement in both its letter and spirit.
The BJM called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to cease from the “divide-and-rule” tactics employed against the Bangsamoro, urging him to refrain from unilateral actions related to the peace agreement.
A participant at the rally expressed concern on the perceived interference of Malacañang Palace in BARMM affairs, questioning the genuine autonomy of the region. “This fundamentally pertains to trust and confidence-building measures between the government and the MILF. It’s not just ordinary autonomy; it is a result of decades of negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),” she noted.
The League of Bangsamoro Organizations (LBO) has similar sentiments in their manifesto, underscoring that the creation of the BARMM transcends mere political agreement; it is a historic covenant based on trust and shared aspirations. LBO President Hashim B. Manticayan stated, “We urge the national government to protect the peace process from political maneuvering that could divide us. Let this administration be remembered for strengthening national unity.”
The BJM has called on all peace-loving Filipinos, international peace partners, and advocates of justice to support their stance, emphasizing the need to ensure that signed agreements are honored in good faith. They declared, “The Bangsamoro remains steadfast. The peace process must be safeguarded.”
The crowd, dubbed as in “Support Rally to Tatay Digong” also voiced their support for former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, calling on authorities to bring him back home, and let the Philippine court decides his case in the country.
During the Duterte’s administration, Republic Act No. 11054 or better known as Bangsamoro Organic Law was passed and signed into law.
Time in Cotabato
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