Minister of public order and safety Hussein Muñoz during the Bangsamoro Peace forum held Friday, March 26, 2021 in Cotabato City.
COTABATO CITY—Peace advocates in Bangsamoro Region convened on Friday, March 26, to tackle ways on how to end grievances and injustices against Bangsamoro thru sustaining peace and reconciliation.
The Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) spearheaded the Bangsamoro Peace Forum dubbed “Sustaining Journey to Peace”, intended to raise consciousness about the struggle for the right to self-determination, appreciate humble gains of the peace process, and strategize ways forward for the Bangsamoro constituents.
This activity is in line with BARMM’s Proclamation 0001, S. 2021 signed by Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, declaring March as Bangsamoro History Month to honor the lives of Moros lost in Bud Dajo Massacre in March 1906, Jabidah Massacre in Corregidor Island on March 18, 1968, and other injustices in Bangsamoro.
MPOS Minister Hussein Muñoz emphasized that March is a month of reckoning and reminiscing the gruesome deaths of the Moros, which stirred the youth to rise against injustices and to fight for right to self-determination.
“We are impassioned to do our sworn obligations to conduct projects, activities, and programs pertinent to sustaining the peace in the region,” said Muñoz.
The ministry is also mandated to help in addressing peace and security issues and concerns of the region as well as in the promotion of peace, reconciliation and unification of its people.
“We are moving forward towards healing and reconciliation to sustain peace amongst our people in BARMM, and there will be no more conflict—not in March; not any time In Shaa Allah,” Muñoz stressed.
In a video message, Chief Minister Ebrahim mentioned that seven years ago, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed a piece of document that would pave way to the eventual Bangsamoro Organic Law and now, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“This is a product of almost two decades of negotiations, Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro (CAB) has documented what needs to be done for the Bangsamoro to address our decades-long plight for self-determination,” he stressed.
“May this Forum enlighten us on where we truly are in the transition period and why the need to comply with the CAB matters—for the Bangsamoro, Mindanao and the whole country in general,” Chief Minister added.
Representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), youth leaders , women, academe, security sectors, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), settlers communities, and MILF organizations from Maguindanao, Cotabato City and 63 barangays in North Cotabato were present during the forum. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
