NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — The overall Philippine peace process accelerated under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), which spoke at the Duterte Legacy Summit on Tuesday.

Secretary of the OPAPRU Carlito Galvez Jr. remembered Duterte’s 2016 inaugural address, in which he stated that the administration would implement all negotiated peace agreements.

“Under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s guidance, the peace process blossomed. At sa gitna po ng maraming hamon na dulot ng pandemya, ay tuluy-tuloy ang pagsulong sa komprehensibong prosesong pangkapayapaan sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng (In the face of many challenges posed by the pandemic, the push for a comprehensive peace process in the country has continued through the) six-

The OPAPRU programs helped to the country’s “relative peace,” particularly in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in partnership with peace partners (BARMM).

“Since the Marawi siege [in 2017], the lack of major hostilities has permitted a rise in economic activity and growth,” he continued.

According to Galvez, the benefits of the peace process during the Duterte administration may be seen in the BARMM’s economic performance, which grew by 7.5 percent in 2021, the second-fastest growth rate among all areas.

“The gains in peace have facilitated private sector confidence, as indicated by a surge in investment creation, and social progress, as evidenced by a fall in poverty incidence, which is now at its lowest level in BARMM,” he said.

the process of peacemaking

Galvez claims that being the first president of Mindanao, the Davao native has a thorough understanding of the peace process.

“He recognized what needed to be done to keep the peace gains,” Galvez added.

The Duterte administration oversaw the execution of the political and normalization tracks of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Duterte effectively led the approval and ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Statute (BOL), an enabling law of the CAB; formation of BARMM; institutionalization of intergovernmental interactions; and extending of the BARMM transition period until 2025, according to Galvez.

“This reflects not only the Moro people’s goals and aspirations, but the entire Filipino nation’s,” Galvez remarked.

The normalization track resulted in the decommissioning of 19,200 former MILF soldiers and 2,100 weapons, as well as the transformation of their fighting camps into progressive communities.

Decommissioned soldiers and their families now have access to chances and socioeconomic initiatives thanks to government efforts.

Former fighters are resuming their lives as productive civilians, collaborating with the government to promote peace and good governance.

Another 7,000 combatants will be decommissioned this year, according to Galvez.

“Tinalikuran na po ng mga dating mandirigma ang buhay ng karahasan at ngayon ay tumutulong na sa pamahalaan upang isulong ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa kanilang mga lugar,” he continued.

The inter-cabinet cluster mechanism on normalization was also established to coordinate national agencies’ initiatives and interventions for decommissioned combatants, including socioeconomic and development programs, security and confidence-building measures, and the push for transitional justice and reconciliation.

Other advantages

The government has also dismantled 15 private armed groups, surrendering 542 unsecured firearms and stenciling 3,911 for accounting under the small arms and light weapons program.

Between January 1 and April 1, 2018, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command accounted for 1,337 loose guns.

Former fighters get job possibilities in exchange for putting up their guns.

“Ang ating mga tagumpay sa ilalim ng security component ng normalisasyon ay bahagi ng ating pagtiyak na ang lahat ng mga nakapaloob sa kasunduang pangkapayapaan ay ma-isakatuparan,” he continued.

The Duterte government also demonstrated its intention to honor all pledges made to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as part of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

In order to strengthen the peace process, two peace coordinating committees were formed to work with MNLF leaders Nur Misuari and Muslimin Sema.

The MNLF, according to Galvez, has become a vital part of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, with 10 of the 80 members of parliament representing the group.

Misuari’s nomination as special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, according to Galvez, “played a critical role for this administration and the next administration.”

“This would secure the MNLF’s continued support for the administration’s peace and development agenda,” he added.

On Sunday, 10,957 MILF and MNLF soldiers underwent the National Police Commission’s special qualifying eligibility examination as part of the harmonization, convergence, and transformation process.

Anti-insurgency programs are a type of counter-insurgency strategy.

To persuade rebels to return to the fold of the law, localized peace engagements through community consultation and peace dialogues with members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) were implemented on a regular basis.

On July 19, 2019, Galvez emphasized the historic signing of the classificatory implementing document with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group (RPMP-RPA-ABB TPG) or Kapatiran.

At least 727 Kapatiran members were each handed a PHP50,000 livelihood settlement grant.

Galvez stated that the peace process with the Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera People’s Liberation Army is progressing, with the government’s normalization program covering 232 villages in the Cordillera.

“We created the social healing and peace-building program in addition to implementing the peace agreements to promote social cohesion, mutual understanding, and reconciliation across the country and to provide viable platforms for the meaningful participation and involvement of women, youth, and other vulnerable sectors,” Galvez said. “This initiative is currently being used in the ongoing Marawi reconstruction.”

In addition, the administration is enhancing the roles of women and youth in the peace process, conflict resolution, and human rights protection.

PAMANA is a program that aims to help people who are

The administration is continuing to undertake the “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” (Peaceful and Abundant Communities or Pamana) program, which includes socioeconomic interventions in conflict-affected areas.

Under the Pamana program, OPAPRU and the Army’s 7th Infantry Division assisted 48 former members of communist terrorist groups with training and reintegration operations from May 21 to 27.

Cesar De Mesa, the executive director of OPAPRU and the head of Pamana, informed the former rebels that the government would continue to support them until they completed their transfer.

“Ay matutugunan po ng gobyerno lahat ng inyong hinaing at pangangailangan.” Marami pong ahensya ang magtutulungan para matugunan dahil iyan po ay order mismo ng Presidente (Your problems and needs will be addressed by the administration). Because it is the President’s order, a number of agencies will support you),” De Mesa told the rebels.

Religious and moral recovery programs, psychological exercises, and social healing interventions are among the other activities planned in the following weeks.

After surrendering to the authorities, former rebel alias Pablo, 58, says he has restored his self-esteem.

“Hindi ko naramdaman ‘nung nasa loob ako,” she says. Low morale, ‘dun, because inuutus-utusan lang kami. (I didn’t feel this way while I was a part of the movement.) Because they were basically ordering us around, we have low morale. They’re not going to listen to us),” Pablo told OPAPRU.

Pablo worked for a CPP unit in San Jose, Nueva Ecija, for 22 years as an intelligence officer.

He wished he had never joined the NPA because it had devastated his family.

“Hiniwalayan po ako ng asawa ko, namatayan ng anak at ‘yung panganay na anak ko, sumama sa Anakbayan at Gabriela,” says Gabriela. ‘Hindi po natupad yung pangarap ko na makapagtapos siya.’ My wife abandoned me, my child died, and my eldest child joined Anakbayan and Gabriela. My wish for my child to graduate was not realized. “That’s definitely my biggest blunder”),” he admitted.

Pablo promised he would succeed with the help he received from the government as he put down his arms.

From 2017 to 2021, the national government will invest PHP55.1 billion in 4,000 Pamana projects, advancing the government’s vision of peaceful, progressive, and conflict-resistant communities.

“These are the outcomes of our collaborative efforts and ongoing commitment to collaborate in the pursuit of a just and enduring peace and sustainable development,” Galvez added.

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