Peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remains elusive, with conflict not only persisting but expected to escalate, particularly as pre-electoral activities intensify, according to a report by the Council for Climate and Conflict Action (CCAA).
“Right now, we tell you, we are receiving data as of the last night, about people getting killed. The numbers are increasing. Our numbers are already reaching, nearly reaching the levels of the entire 2023,” Francisco Lara Jr., CCAA Executive Director, told the media in a press briefing.
“The danger is they have 2025, the election itself,” he added.
The Conflict Alert Report by CCAA, Lara said, highlighted the trend of violence which has been most profound in the mainland provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, and Maguindanao del Norte.
In contrast, peace appears to be more robust the “farther one gets from the center of the regional state,’ particularly in provinces like Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan,” the report said.
This does not imply that peace is genuinely taking hold. The report emphasizes that evidence does not support or validate the notion of a growing peace momentum that the regional and national governments have repeatedly proclaimed through various statements.
Instead, the data points to emerging sources of instability, including clan-based feuds, Lara said.
“A lot of them are fights over political positions. That’s a trend that we noticed already since five years ago. The big change here also right now, because of the amount of money going into local governments.. The amounts of Ira mean that the political office, land legal office, is the major economic prize that everyone is fighting for,” he added.
Aside from the clan-based feuds, schisms within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are also a major concern, according to Lara.
Despite expectations that the MILF would contribute to peace, it has become a significant source of insecurity due to the lack of “genuine” decommissioning and demobilization of its forces. Clashes between MILF commanders and state law enforcers continue to be reported frequently.
Much of the violence is fueled by internal schisms and feuding within the MILF itself, highlighting the weak and divided governance of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The report urged the government to enhance support for independent monitoring systems in the region and to foster a unified media effort to combat misinformation and ensure electoral integrity, with a focus on early mediation. It also called for humanitarian and legal aid groups to prepare for rapid response and for the establishment of a joint task force for the elections.
The report also said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU) should prioritize protecting key areas from violence, addressing the needs of marginalized communities, and investing in MILF camp transformation.
