OPAPRU reaffirms support as Bangsamoro enters regular parliamentary rule

COTABATO CITY — The national government reaffirmed its "unwavering support" for the Bangsamoro Government as the region moves into full, regular parliamentary governance. It also urged members of the newly constituted Bangsamoro Parliament to bridge their differences and work together.

In a statement issued on Saturday (Oct. 31), Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity and concurrent chair of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Implementing Panel, congratulated the Parliament's newly elected leaders, headed by Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua and Speaker Amer Zaakaria Rakim.

He also congratulated the Bangsamoro Government and Parliament on the successful conduct of the inaugural session on Oct. 30.

"As this new chapter of governance unfolds, nurturing social cohesion, mutual respect, and inclusive dialogue remains vital across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," Sarmiento said.

Speaking on behalf of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the GPH Peace Implementing Panel, Sarmiento called on Members of Parliament and regional leaders to uphold good governance. He urged them to work together "in spirit and action" to advance the welfare of every community and secure the enduring dividends of the Bangsamoro peace process.

He said OPAPRU, under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reaffirms the national government's support for the regional government during this transition.

"The crucial task now facing us is implementing governance, one that creates shared value," he said.

Sarmiento said the new Bangsamoro Government and Parliament must focus on delivering programs and essential services, especially to remote, underdeveloped and vulnerable communities.

"The true measure of this historic transition will be how it improves lives, strengthens public trust, and builds a future where peace and development go hand in hand," he said.

He also thanked the security forces and peace mechanisms that secured the proceedings.
In a separate message posted on OPAPRU's Facebook page, Sarmiento praised MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for "demonstrating the spirit of statesmanship" by "placing the greater interest of the Bangsamoro above political differences."

The first regular Bangsamoro Parliament is made up of 80 members elected in the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections. It replaces the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which governed the region during the transition period that began in 2019 under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.