MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR — Local chief executives, military and police forces, and leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) gathered here on July 16, signing a “Manifesto of Peace and Unity” in a bid to ensure the peaceful, orderly and credible conduct of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.
The Maguindanao del Sur Leaders’ Conference and Provincial Peace and Order Council Cluster Meeting provided a venue for stakeholders to synchronize security operations, address grassroots concerns, and solidify peacebuilding strategies as the region gears up for the historic polls set on September 14, 2026.
The cost of war and the promise of development
Speaking as the event’s guest of honor, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento underscored that peace and economic development must go hand in hand.
Sarmiento reminded the attendees of the heavy toll of armed conflict, as he vividly illustrated the economic cost of violence, saying, “Mahal po ang giyera. Sa bawat putok, kalahating kilo ng bigas po ‘yan. Isipin na lang natin ang epekto niyan sa bawat mamamayan.”
He urged the leaders to learn from the post-war economic booms of South Korea and Vietnam, noting that once the gunfire ceased, those nations focused entirely on economic growth.
Sarmiento challenged the province to scale up its agricultural efforts to compete globally, warning against a poor agricultural framework, noting that “We cannot afford a fragmented agriculture na kanya-kanya at walang scale..
He encouraged the leaders to move past conflicts and focus on prosperity: “Kapag nagkaisa po tayo, sama-sama nating tanggalin ang gulo sa ating isipan. Tulong-tulong po tayo para sa kapayapaan. Kumpiyansa ako na magiging progresibo ang BARMM at mahahabol natin ang ibang rehiyon.”
Fortifying security for historic elections
PBGEN Christopher M. Abecia, Regional Director of PRO BAR, highlighted the need for a united front, as he expressed the security sector’s commitment to ensure the safety of voters during the highly-anticipated political exercise.
“Lalo nating pinagtitibay ang ating koordinasyon upang matiyak na ang halalan ay magiging ligtas, mapayapa, malayak at patos,” Major General Jose Vladimir Cagara, Commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) said, noting that the conference is an opportunity to “exchange ideas, address emerging concerns and reinforce our vision of a peaceful, secure and progressive [province]”.
Cagara 6ID reported neutralizing 115 threats and recovering 517 firearms and 102 explosives for the year.
Police Colonel Michael John C. Mangahis, Director of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, noted a 15.87% decline in peace and order cases, warning that the situation “is manageable but fragile with vigilance from active difference and decisive operations stability can be preserved and strengthened”.
Major General Francisco Ariel Felicidario (Ret.) highlighted the distinct role of the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) during elections in supporting the GPH-MILF CCCH and AHJAG’s enhanced ceasefire-related functions during the elections, pursuant to the agreed Guidelines for a Memorandum of Understanding. The initiative aims to uphold GPH-MILF peace agreements, preserve the peace process, and support the conduct of honest, orderly, and peaceful elections.
Felicidario said these tripartite teams, which are composed of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members, will conduct preemptive patrols but shall be unarmed at all times.
“Hindi pwedeng magbitbit ng baril pag nagpapatrolya ang JPST 2 week election. They perform their duties in uniform pero walang bitbit na baril,” Felicidario stated.
MILF, local leaders united for peace
The MILF leadership reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Malik J. Caril, the newly appointed Chairman of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), formally endorsed the updated list of designated Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) commanders serving as Officers-in-Charge (OIC) of key MILF Front and Base Commands, following the affiliation of some previous MILF commanders with the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP).
Redefining the committee’s overarching goal, Caril stated, “Peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is the presence of active cooperation, mutual respect and the peace and public service that we all strive to provide our people”.
Representing the provincial government, Administrator Datu Nur-Ali U. Midtimbang called for a collective approach to resolving conflicts.
Midtimbang stressed “there is no problem too difficult which we cannot solve through a peaceful, meaningful and sincere dialogue,” as he urged the leaders to use the gathering as a “safe space” to find a common [ground] that will unify the people and allow them to overcome differences.
Empowering grassroots leaders and customary laws
Sarmiento also highlighted the crucial role of community-level leaders in maintaining peace, citing barangay captains as the most crucial governance figures on the ground.
“The most powerful official in this country, for me, is the barangay captain. Siya na ang presidente, speaker of the house, at senate president. Chief justice din siya dahil siya ang nag-uumpisa ng traditional way of settling conflict sa pamamagitan ng lupon tagapamayapa,” he said.
To support these grassroots-led efforts, Sarmiento announced a recent agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to formally integrate and support traditional conflict resolution methods in the BARMM.
“Nagkapirmahan po kami ng DOJ…Papalakasin natin ang pagkilala sa customary law, ang kinagisnang paraan ng pag-aayos ng hidwaan sa bawat lugar, na nakasaad din sa ating Saligang Batas,” he shared, a move that aims to resolve local disputes culturally and peacefully before they further escalate and reach the courts.
The conference featured an open forum where municipal mayors raised pressing local issues, such as the timeline for decommissioning remaining MILF combatants and the need for the government to repair infrastructure that were damaged during Typhoon Inday.
“Magsama-sama at magtulong-tulong po tayo para sa mas magandang kinabukasan. Hindi na para sa atin, kundi para sa ating mga anak, sa isang lugar na pwede nilang ipagyabang na may maganda at masaganang buhay,” Sarmiento concluded.###