“Not impossible” is how Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Peace (OPAPRU) describes the end of the armed insurgency in the entire country by the end of the Marcos Jr. administration in 2028.
“In my assessment, the government’s convergence efforts can turn the vision (of a peaceful Philippines) into reality because of economic gains. At the same time, we see that national agencies are now getting together to solve the basic issues and the drivers of conflict,” Galvez pointed out.
Apart from this, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have made significant progress in reducing the number of insurgent forces.
From more than 80 guerrilla fronts, the active ones are now mainly in Samar, Bicol Region and Negros Island.
The New People’s Army used to hold sway in the Davao Region but have been driven out by relentless military operations.
The Regional Peace and Order Council-Davao declared the entire region cleared of insurgents as of Sept. 19, 2022. It is the third region in the country declared as insurgency-free following the Ilocos Region and Zamboanga Peninsula.
“We don’t hear of (military) engagements anymore. Mostly, what we talk about are what livelihood projects we can provide,” the former AFP Chief of Staff said.
The comprehensive approach of the military, along with non-combat strategies, encouraged many communist rebels to return to mainstream society. Apart from this, the government’s amnesty program has also allowed former rebels to regain their political and civil rights.
The Marcos Jr. administration is also committed to fulfilling its part in the Bangsamoro peace process. President Marcos has given his assurance the first BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) regional elections 2025 will be peaceful, orderly and credible.
“He has been visiting the BARMM almost every week,” according to Galvez.
Bangsamoro Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun told media recently expectations are high for the upcoming first parliamentary elections in BARMM next year.
Proof of this is at least 16 political parties have registered with the Bangsamoro Commission on Elections.
BARMM is now conducting voter’s education and information campaigns in the areas covered by the regional government to raise public awareness on the upcoming polls.
“The final pieces of the puzzle, so to speak, are now complete so that everyone can participate in our first parliamentary elections,” Pendatun said.
With the forthcoming political exercise next year that will elect the successors of the interim Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, Muslim Filipinos will get the chance to take part in charting their future, not with bullets, but through the ballot.
