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18July
Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento delivers a brief message during the Civil Society Summit for the Bangsamoro on 2 July 2026 at the Ateneo de Davao University. Photo courtesy of CSO Summit
Sarmiento is new head of GPH peace implementing panel
- Jul 18, 2026
- Al Iskandar
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Sarmiento succeeds retired Gen. Cesar Yano, who stepped down as GPH-PIP chair earlier this year, and is now the sixth person to hold the post since the peace implementation phase began in 2016. He is the counterpart of Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel.
Sarmiento said in a statement Wednesday that he retains his position as head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU). The concurrent roles pose a challenge, he said, but provide "a seamless alignment."
"The President's guidance is crystal clear: the Marcos administration will double its efforts in implementing the landmark and historic Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro," Sarmiento said. "We remain unyielding in our commitments to the milestones achieved with the MILF."
Sarmiento's new role comes two months before the historic first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election on September 14 — one day before the start of the official election period.
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