DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 19 March) – Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. has urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to continue supporting the Bangsamoro peace process, emphasizing that the progress achieved is “too precious to be stalled.” His appeal follows MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim’s announcement of a temporary suspension of engagement on several aspects of the peace process due to the absence of a Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) chair after Cesar Yano’s reported resignation.
Ebrahim stated that without a formally designated GPIP chair, the MILF cannot proceed with substantive engagements requiring formal commitments. Despite this pause, he reaffirmed the MILF’s commitment to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
Galvez clarified that the selection of a new GPIP chair is an internal government process and should not hinder peace efforts. He stressed that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) remains committed to advancing the peace agenda, particularly in the Normalization Track, ahead of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections.
Calling the CAB a “sacred peace covenant,” Galvez warned that delays create uncertainty for former combatants and communities undergoing transformation. He urged the MILF to sustain momentum, highlighting their shared goal of lasting peace in the Bangsamoro region. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
