PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru) Carlito G. Galvez said terrorism and political interests remain as the biggest threats to government’s bid to achieve a lasting peace in Mindanao.
During a forum last Thursday, Galvez stressed the need for unity among the leaders of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) and other stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of the 2025 Bangsamoro Parliament elections.
“Terrorism and political divisions remain to be the threats [to the peace process in Mindanao]. Some political interests are really trying to undermine the national interest. That’s why I’m appealing for unity among ourselves…so that we can have a very peaceful election in 2025,” Galvez said.
The Opapru chief admitted that the successful conduct of the 2025 Barmm election is the biggest challenge that the Opapru is currently facing.
“Our goal is to make that transition, the 2025 election peaceful,” Galvez said.
He expressed support to the non-lethal approach being employed by the military in resolving the terrorism problem in the country.
Galvez noted that while military operations continue to be an option, addressing the root of the problem by “winning of the hearts and minds of the people” is a laudable approach.
“We have to break the cycle of violence by winning the hearts and minds of the people so that the culture of peace will reign over,” he said. “We are thankful that the military is using the approach, they are using the non-lethal more which addresses the root cause.”
It can be recalled that Republic Act (RA) 11593, also known as “An Act Resetting the First Regular Elections in the Barmm was approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte before his term ended last June.
The law deferred the first Barmm polls from May 2023 to May 2025, thus extending the life of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
Under RA 11593, the Chief Executive is given the power to appoint up to 80 new interim members of the BTA who will serve until June 30, 2025 or until their successors shall have been elected.
Last September, the peace process was given a boost following the appointment of the 80-member BTA by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.