Sarmiento vows to fast-track Bangsamoro peace process, welcomes MILF partnership

COTABATO CITY — Newly appointed Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento has expressed his commitment to advancing the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), responding warmly to the welcome extended by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel Chairman Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal.

In his response statement, Sarmiento thanked Iqbal and the MILF leadership for their warm reception, acknowledging the weight of the work that lies ahead. "I deeply appreciate your kind words and the recognition of the work ahead as we move toward the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro," he said.

Sarmiento outlined his priorities, pledging to work closely with the Chairs of both the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and MILF Peace Implementing Panels to advance the normalization process, fast-track reconciliation efforts, and complete what he described as "this crucial phase with unity, mutual respect, and shared purpose."

Following the directive of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Sarmiento said his office will focus heavily on reconciliation through close coordination with regional, provincial, city, and municipal governments, while prioritizing socio-economic upliftment. He further committed to promoting inclusive and participatory governance, ensuring that economic and development gains reach grassroots communities and meaningfully support the reintegration of former combatants.

"Our shared end goal is a progressive Bangsamoro region, anchored on the aspirations of its people, guided by self-determination, and built on institutions that are responsive, inclusive, and enduring," Sarmiento said.

He also welcomed the MILF's direct invitation to engage its leadership, emphasizing that the completion of the peace process requires genuine partnership rather than parallel and separate efforts.

MILF Sets the Tone: Civilian Work, Not Security Operations

Earlier, Iqbal issued a statement welcoming Sarmiento's appointment while laying out a clear-eyed assessment of what the new adviser faces. The MILF chief described the current moment as one requiring harder, less visible work — completing normalization, building fiscal and governance capacity in the BARMM, safeguarding the integrity of the Bangsamoro's first parliamentary elections, and delivering tangible development to communities long battered by decades of conflict.

Iqbal was deliberate in framing what kind of leadership the Bangsamoro now needs. "This is civilian work," he said, stressing that Sarmiento's background in municipal administration, regional development coordination, and national government-BARMM intergovernmental relations makes him well-suited for the task ahead. "The Bangsamoro needs a partner at the national level who understands how institutions actually work, not simply how security operations function," Iqbal added.

While welcoming Sarmiento, Iqbal was careful not to frame the transition as a celebration of his predecessor's departure. He paid tribute to outgoing Presidential Peace Adviser General Carlito G. Galvez Jr., describing him as "not merely an official, but a partner to the MILF in the critical years of implementation." Iqbal noted that Galvez's tenure witnessed the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the beginning of the decommissioning process — milestones he called historic.

"We may have had differences in the way the peace process is being pushed forward, but our respect for each other remains etched in our memories forever. Our friendship remains," Iqbal said of Galvez.

A Convergence of Vision

Taken together, the two statements signal a convergence of vision between the new Presidential Peace Adviser and the MILF — both emphasizing partnership, institutional capacity, inclusive governance, and the urgency of completing the peace process before the historic first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026.

"The Bangsamoro's future depends on whether we finish what we started," Iqbal said in closing. "The MILF stands ready to contribute fully to that work."

Sarmiento, for his part, echoed the same resolve. "Through these collective efforts, we aim to achieve inclusive economic growth and sustainable peace — for the benefit of all Bangsamoro communities."