THE Bangsamoro government has unveiled a historical marker commemorating the legacy of the late Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Sheikh Salamat Hashim, at his former residence in Camp Abubakar (now Camp Iranun) in Barira, Maguindanao del Norte.
The marker, called “Gate of Transformation” features a mural by local artist Joseph Dacer Isidro showcasing the unity of the government and the Bangsamoro in their efforts to alter what used to be a rebel camp into a peaceful community with a vibrant economy.
It was installed by the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH), highlighting the site’s “significant role in shaping Bangsamoro history.”
BCPCH chairman Dr. Salem Lingasa, in his message, emphasized the importance of launching the Commission’s historical marker program at Hashim’s former residence.
“It is only right that we begin here, at Camp Abubakar, in the heart of a place that has witnessed so much of our history, and in the residence of a leader whose name and life are etched in the consciousness of every Bangsamoro,” he stated.
Salamat Hashim, a revered Moro leader and founder of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), spearheaded the Bangsamoro’s decades-long struggle for self-determination.
This movement ultimately led to a peace agreement with the Philippine government, paving the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Built in 1990, Hashim’s residence served as a strategic command center during the MILF’s separatist struggle.
The historical marker is part of the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage’s (BCPCH) broader initiative to identify and honor significant sites across the region, ensuring they are properly recognized and preserved.
Lingasa stressed that installing historical markers is vital to safeguarding the Bangsamoro’s rich cultural heritage and helping future generations understand their roots and the sacrifices that shaped their identity.
In a separate interview, BARMM senior minister Mohammad Yacom echoed the markers’ importance and urged the Bangsamoro youth to study the region’s history.
“I encourage all our youth leaders to learn about our history and what our leaders endured over the past decades toward their assertion of Bangsamoro principles,” he said.
An eco-park is also set to be established in the camp pursuant to the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 61, or the “Bangsamoro Memorial Marker Act of 2024.”
BCPCH has also identified additional historical sites across all BARMM provinces where more markers will be installed.
