The government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), has completed the socioeconomic profiling of 458 former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters in Sulu under the MNLF Transformation Program.
The move aims to assist the former Islamic guerrillas and their communities in becoming self-reliant and productive members of mainstream society, providing transitional cash aid of P45,000 per person and other benefits such as health insurance, rice assistance, and civil registration support.
During the event, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., underscored the determination of the Marcos administration to fulfil all of the government’s commitments under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.
“We sustain our collaboration with the MNLF leadership to ensure the transformation and progress of every MNLF combatant, their families and their communities, particularly here in Sulu,” Galvez said in his remarks.
The initiative was carried out with the help of national and local government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the PhilHealth, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and educational institutions.
In 2025, over 500 loose firearms were documented as part of the program’s peace and security components.
Key stakeholders praised the collaborative process, emphasizing that the program is more than just technical profiling—it represents healing, peace building, and long-term development.
The government plans to screen the remaining 167 MNLF members within the year as part of its ongoing commitment to the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.
