Marcos to BARMM’s new MPs: Sustain the gains of peace

COTABATO CITY — President Marcos urged the first elected leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to be bearers of hope for the Moro people whose aspirations for self-governance took a historic turn on Friday with the inaugural session of the 80-member regional parliament.

“After decades of struggle, we have reached this monumental day … For decades, generations wondered if this day would ever come. Today, we welcome the inaugural session of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament,” the President told the members of parliament (MPs) assembled at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex inside the Bangsamoro Government Center here.

“Truly, this is a victory for our Bangsamoro brethren. It is a victory for Mindanao. It is a victory for the entire Filipino nation,” he said.

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READ: Ex-MILF military chief elected first BARMM Chief Minister

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The inaugural session was opened by Sheikh Muslim Guiamaden, Bangsamoro wali, or ceremonial head. After electing MP Ishak Mastura as temporary presiding officer, the body suspended session to hear the President’s speech inside the Plenary Hall.

“The path leading up to this day was long and painful. We remember the families who suffered, and lost loved ones during years of conflict. We honor them today,” Mr. Marcos said.

The BARMM’s parliamentary structure as well as its governance powers are founded on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, a 2014 peace deal between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) firmed up after 17 years of negotiations aiming to end four decades of separatist rebellion in Mindanao.

READ: Bangsamoro starts a new chapter

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“We also honor the leaders from every side of the table who listened to one another, because their efforts paved the way for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority,” the President said.

‘Dividends of peace’

Among those on the floor was MP Mohagher Iqbal, chief peace negotiator of the MILF, who steered the group toward an agreement with the government. More than 30 other MPs spent their lives in the Moro revolution.

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“This day is a milestone in the peace process between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, marking the transition from armed struggle to peaceful democratic governance,” Mr. Marcos also said. “To everyone who has contributed to the story of the Bangsamoro, thank you for never giving up on peace.”

The task at hand now, according to him, is building “an effective parliamentary government that will sustain the gains of peace and guide the Bangsamoro’s development in the years to come.”

He told the parliament to ensure “that the dividends of peace are felt in the daily lives of every Bangsamoro family.”

“To the members of this parliament, never forget the struggle that people have endured. Serve with humility, carry the hopes of many generations and honor their sacrifices through good governance,” he appealed.

The President vowed continued support for the BARMM, saying, “The national government stands with you.”

Decades of conflict had confined the region to underdevelopment. But in the last seven years, with more resources at its disposal and peace restored in vast areas, the BARMM has become among Mindanao’s fastest-growing regional economies.

First chief minister

When session resumed after the President’s speech, the MPs elected Abdulraof Macacua as the first elected Chief Minister of the region.

He was interim Chief Minister from March last year, replacing MILF Chair Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, against whom he contested the seat during Friday’s vote.

In his inaugural speech, Macacua, former MILF military chief, vowed to continue the moral governance agenda championed by Ebrahim during his tenure as interim chief minister.

“Sir, I want to personally assure you that the moral governance agenda you have started will remain at the very heart of my leadership. I recognize the sacrifices, principles and aspirations upon which this vision was made,” Macacua said, addressing Ebrahim, whom he embraced before the start of the inaugural session.

“I consider it both a personal commitment and a moral responsibility to carry it forward, no matter what. You have my word, sir, that I will remain faithful to this vision, not only in words but in every decision and action of this administration until the very last day of my mandate,” he said.

“We must never forget the history that has brought us to this moment,” he added.

Open to dialogue

Macacua also assured the Bangsamoro people that he would listen with humility, decide with discernment, act with courage and serve with sincerity.

Earlier in his speech, Macacua, a former chief of staff of the MILF’s armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, said his election was about more than assuming leadership.

“Today is not merely about the assumption of leadership. It is about the continuing fulfillment of the promise that the Bangsamoro people shall have the opportunity to determine their own future through institutions that are democratic, accountable and truly representative of their aspirations,” he said.

Macacua said he would lead everyone, including those who had supported his election and those who had expressed reservations about his leadership.

He vowed that his administration over the next five years would remain open to dialogue, respect constructive criticism and pursue meaningful collaboration across political and institutional lines.

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“I choose reconciliation over resentment, collaboration over confrontation, and the patient work of institution-building over the fleeting satisfaction of political victory,” he said. —WITH A REPORT FROM TAHER SOLAIMAN