Latest news with #Bangsamoro
GMA Network
12-08-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Multi-sectoral approach vital in achieving peace, advocates say
Peace advocates on Saturday gathered together in Quezon City and emphasized the role of multi-sectoral collaboration in maintaining peace nationwide. During the 3rd National Peace Convention organized by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), over 800 peace advocates and delegates conducted discussions on what initiatives can restore peace in the world. Discussions in the event included the possible inclusion of the Bangsamoro peace accords in UNESCO's Memory of the World Registry to be recognized as symbols of national reconciliation and global heritage. It also included initiatives on support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and Religious Peace Academy (RPA), furthering peace education through school peace clubs, peace monuments, and capacity-building. 'So what our future generations need is a world of peace without wars. Is there anything greater than this? Who will make this a reality? It is all of us today. We must absolutely make this happen. That is why we have all become one united in heart. What do we always say at the beginning and at the end whenever we meet? We say, 'We are one' because it is proof that we are one within HWPL,' said HWPL chairman Lee Man-hee, who was represented by HWPL Global Branch 1 chief branch manager Jin Mo Lee. 'Ang mga ganitong kolaborasyon ay patunay na kapag nagsanib ang sining, kasaysayan at malasakit, tunay na posibleng makamit ang isang makatarungan at pangmatagalang kapayapaan (Collaborations like these are proof that when art, history, and compassion come together, it is truly possible to achieve a just and lasting peace),' added NCCA Chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo. The 3rd National Peace Convention had the theme of 'Uniting for Peace and Fulfilling Humanity's Duty Together,' following calls from the 1st convention for a peace-themed national resolution and an emphasis on peace education and religion for the 2nd convention. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Washington Post
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Rebels halt decommissioning of forces after accusing Philippines of reneging on peace deal
MANILA, Philippines — The largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines has suspended the disarming of its remaining 14,000 fighters after claiming that the government has not fully complied with commitments it made under a 2014 peace deal , a Philippine official said Thursday. Under the peace deal, brokered by Malaysia, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels gave up their goal of a separate Muslim state in the south of the largely Roman Catholic country in exchange for broader autonomy. The group's 40,000 fighters would be ' demobilized ' and given livelihoods and other help to bring them back to normal life. The Bangsamoro region was established under the peace deal to replace a poverty-wracked five-province autonomous region with a larger, better-funded and more powerful area, which has been governed by former guerrilla leaders under a transition period that was to end with regular elections scheduled in October. Presidential Assistant David Diciano, who has been helping oversee the transformation of the Bangsamoro region, said in a statement that the Muslim rebel front's central committee has decided to 'to postpone the decommissioning of 14,000 of its combatants and 2,450 of their weapons.' He added: 'We also express our disagreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's recent resolution, claiming that the government has not delivered substantially on its socio-economic commitments.' He urged the rebels to use channels under the peace deal to address problems in its enforcement. Rebel front leaders did not immediately comment on his statement. Diciano outlined a range of government-provided benefits he said has been provided to more than 26,000 former guerrillas since 2015. The benefits included a 100,000-peso ($1,700) 'transitional cash assistance' given to each combatant after giving up weapons. The Philippine government has spent about 4 billion pesos ($69 million) since 2019 to provide health insurance, government registrations, job skills training and employment to former combatants, according to Diciano. Farm-to-market roads, bridges, drinking water systems, health clinics, irrigation and other infrastructure have been built in six southern rebel encampments from 2015. Since 2020, the government has provided the Muslim autonomous region with grants totalling more than 420 billion pesos ($7 billion) for infrastructure and other projects, he said. 'The transformation process necessitates a shift in mindset as the possession of illegal firearms is anathema to a peaceful and civilized society,' Diciano said. 'This constitutes the fundamental principle of the peace agreement, whereby armed revolutionary groups are to be transitioned into social and political movements.' The 2014 agreement eased decades of on-and-off fighting that have left about 120,000 people dead, displaced large numbers of rural villagers and stunted development in a region with some of the country's poorest areas. A separate communist insurgency had weakened but has endured for decades. Philippine and Western governments, along with the guerrillas, saw an effective Muslim autonomy as an antidote to more than half a century of Muslim secessionist violence, which could be exploited by foreign radical groups to gain a foothold in Southeast Asia.
Associated Press
31-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Rebels halt decommissioning of forces after accusing Philippines of reneging on peace deal
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines has suspended the disarming of its remaining 14,000 fighters after claiming that the government has not fully complied with commitments it made under a 2014 peace deal, a Philippine official said Thursday. Under the peace deal, brokered by Malaysia, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels gave up their goal of a separate Muslim state in the south of the largely Roman Catholic country in exchange for broader autonomy. The group's 40,000 fighters would be ' demobilized ' and given livelihoods and other help to bring them back to normal life. The Bangsamoro region was established under the peace deal to replace a poverty-wracked five-province autonomous region with a larger, better-funded and more powerful area, which has been governed by former guerrilla leaders under a transition period that was to end with regular elections scheduled in October. Presidential Assistant David Diciano, who has been helping oversee the transformation of the Bangsamoro region, said in a statement that the Muslim rebel front's central committee has decided to 'to postpone the decommissioning of 14,000 of its combatants and 2,450 of their weapons.' He added: 'We also express our disagreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's recent resolution, claiming that the government has not delivered substantially on its socio-economic commitments.' He urged the rebels to use channels under the peace deal to address problems in its enforcement. Rebel front leaders did not immediately comment on his statement. Diciano outlined a range of government-provided benefits he said has been provided to more than 26,000 former guerrillas since 2015. The benefits included a 100,000-peso ($1,700) 'transitional cash assistance' given to each combatant after giving up weapons. The Philippine government has spent about 4 billion pesos ($69 million) since 2019 to provide health insurance, government registrations, job skills training and employment to former combatants, according to Diciano. Farm-to-market roads, bridges, drinking water systems, health clinics, irrigation and other infrastructure have been built in six southern rebel encampments from 2015. Since 2020, the government has provided the Muslim autonomous region with grants totalling more than 420 billion pesos ($7 billion) for infrastructure and other projects, he said. 'The transformation process necessitates a shift in mindset as the possession of illegal firearms is anathema to a peaceful and civilized society,' Diciano said. 'This constitutes the fundamental principle of the peace agreement, whereby armed revolutionary groups are to be transitioned into social and political movements.' The 2014 agreement eased decades of on-and-off fighting that have left about 120,000 people dead, displaced large numbers of rural villagers and stunted development in a region with some of the country's poorest areas. A separate communist insurgency had weakened but has endured for decades. Philippine and Western governments, along with the guerrillas, saw an effective Muslim autonomy as an antidote to more than half a century of Muslim secessionist violence, which could be exploited by foreign radical groups to gain a foothold in Southeast Asia.
GMA Network
01-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
BARMM polls to proceed even with only 73 seats up for grabs — Comelec
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday it can no longer delay the first-ever Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on October 13 even though only 73 seats are up for grabs. Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said the poll body is ready to explain before the Supreme Court the poll body's decision to proceed with the parliamentary elections in the region. "Nakahanda naman po kaming tumugon at magpaliwanag sa ating Kataastasang Hukuman kung kami ay aatasan na sumagot," he said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (We are ready to answer and explain to the Supreme Court if we are ordered to respond.) "Kung sakali man pong magkakaroon ng development, whether sa batas, whether sa kaso o pagkuwestiyon at ano pa man, nakahanda naman po tumugon ang Comelec," Laudiangco said. "Ngunit isa lamang po ang malinaw na mensahe ng Comelec sa bagay na ito, kailangan na po namin maghanda at hindi na po kami puwede mag-delay pa kung nais natin matuloy ang halalan sa October 13," he added. (In case there is a development, whether on law, the case, or any questions, the Comelec is ready to respond. However, the Comelec has only one clear message on this matter: We need to prepare and we cannot face any further delays if we want the elections to proceed on October 13.) There were supposed to be 80 available parliamentary seats, but the seven seats that were originally intended for Sulu have yet to be reallocated by the interim Bangsamoro Parliament. In a September 2024 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Bangsamoro Organic Law but declared that Sulu was not part of BARMM. The High Court denied motions seeking the reversal of the decision in November 2024. The SC ruling necessitated the redistribution of the seven vacated seats originally allocated to Sulu under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed into law the measure postponing the BARMM polls from May 12 to October 13 this year. Malacañang had said the President supported a Senate bill for the postponement of the BARMM polls as this would "address the urgent need of the Bangsamoro transitional government to realign its governance structure." — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec may suspend BSKE voter registration in July
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may postpone the voter registration for the 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BKSE) set in July amid the looming term extension for barangay and SK officials. Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia made the remarks Thursday after the Senate on Wednesday evening ratified the bicameral conference committee report seeking to extend the term of office for barangay and SK officials from three to four years, and postpone the elections to the first Monday of November 2026. 'Una, dapat nating maintindihan na ito ay political decision at siyempre, hindi pupwedeng makialam ang Comelec sa political decision, lalo na ng ating legislative department,' Garcia told reporters. (We need to understand that this is a political decision and the Comelec cannot intervene with this.) 'Ginagalang natin yan at kung ano mapagkasunduan nila, susunod ang Comelec lalo na ito ay pagpapaliban ng isang halalan,' he added. (We respect their decision and we will adhere to it.) Garcia said they will wait for the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whether to approve or veto the proposed measure. He also said the poll body is set to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss BSKE preparations, including the procurement of requirements, and the possible suspension of voter registration. 'Yan ay isa sa mga pinakamataas na consideration namin — na kung magkakaganun might as well gawin na lang namin ang voter registration pang-BSKE, simula na lang after ng Bangsamoro elections at pahabain namin kahit ilang buwan sa taon na to, halimbawa October hanggang August next year,' Garcia added. (We are thinking that if it will be suspended then we might as well move the voter registration for BSKE after the Bangsamoro polls. It may happen from October to August next year.) With the extended voter registration, the Comelec is now expecting at least 70 million Filipinos will register to vote for the BSKE. The poll body is likewise eyeing to request for a higher 2026 budget. 'Hindi pa natin naco-compute sa kasalukuyan pero iinsist natin, lalo na sa executive department, para sa budget ng 2026 baka maihahabol pa na maibalik yung P2,000 across-the-board na binibigay natin sa ating mga electoral board members,' said Garcia. (We have yet to finalize but we will insist on a higher budget.) 'Kahit man lang yung P2,000 maibalik natin and at the same time, magdadagdag tayo ng presinto, guro na maglilingkod, election paraphernalia,' he added. (We will ask for the P2,000 additional honoraria and increased funding for polling precincts, teachers, and election paraphernalia.) The Philippines is set to hold the 2025 BSKE on December 1. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
