NEWS
15March
Multisectoral Leaders Urge President Marcos Jr. to Safeguard Bangsamoro Peace Process
- Mar 15, 2026
- Muhammad Musa
- HITS: 585
In a statement released on March 12, 2026, the coalition stressed that recent developments indicate growing dysfunction in the governance and institutional coordination of the peace process, as well as setbacks in the implementation of Bangsamoro autonomy under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
“The growing dysfunction affecting the Bangsamoro peace process demands urgent and decisive leadership,” the statement read. “If left unaddressed, these challenges risk eroding decades of trust painstakingly built among key stakeholders, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), local communities, and national institutions.”
The leaders called on the government to take immediate steps, including:
• Reconstituting the leadership managing the national government’s peace process to restore credibility and trust.
• Empowering the Government’s Implementing Peace Panel to fully engage with counterparts and oversee the implementation of commitments.
• Rebuilding the MILF’s confidence by addressing their concerns regarding governance and the transition.
• Reaffirming the government’s commitment to fully implement all signed peace agreements.
• Holding regular high-level dialogues with Bangsamoro leadership to prevent further erosion of trust.
The statement highlighted that the Bangsamoro peace process, which is entering its 12th year of enactment this March, stands as a nationally and internationally recognized example of inclusive peacebuilding. Women leaders, civil society organizations, and community networks have played critical roles in ensuring dialogue, mediation, and resilience throughout the process.
“Resolving the present governance challenges would not only safeguard the gains of peace in Mindanao but also enable the successful execution of an exit agreement by the end of this term—a milestone of historic national and global significance,” the leaders said.
The multisectoral coalition includes over 100 organizations, spanning Bangsamoro and Mindanao civil society, national social movements, youth and student groups, academe, and political parties. Notable signatories include the UNYPAD, Al Mujadilaa Women’s Association, Ateneo de Davao University, Miriam College Center for Peace Education, Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, Liberal Party, and former members of the government negotiating panel for talks with the MILF.
The statement concluded with a call for all stakeholders, including the MILF, to stay committed to fulfilling their obligations, emphasizing that safeguarding and successfully concluding the peace process would be one of the defining achievements of the current administration.
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