EU reiterates commitment to Mindanao peace process

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The ambassadors of the European Union (EU) and its member states on Friday reiterated their countries’ support to the peace process and development in Mindanao.

EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux led diplomats in visiting Central Mindanao to promote peace.

They were briefed by officials of the Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), led by Regional Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia and Vice Gov. Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman, on the regional government’s socio-economic and humanitarian efforts.    

They also went to Camp Darapanan of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for a dialogue with senior MILF leaders.

Alamia told Ledoux and his entourage, among them Ambassadors Thomas Ossowski of Germany, Massimo Roscigno of Italy, Josef Muellner of Austria, and Roland Van Remoortele of Belgium, that the administration of ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman is preparing for the transition from the regional government’s present set-up to an MILF-led Bangsamoro political entity.

Hataman is out of the country for a short-term governance and peace and human security management courses offered by an international organization.

The courses were in recognition of his peace initiatives in the ARMM’s five provinces – Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. 

Ledoux said their visit in Mindanao shows EU’s continuous support for the peace process and development in the region.

He said after the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the completion of the draft of the Bangsamoro Law, a peaceful transition in Mindanao is essential for the country’s economic and social development.

The EU has been funding, for more than a decade now, programs aimed at addressing poverty and underdevelopment in far-flung Muslim communities in the autonomous region.

Ledoux said they are delighted by how the ARMM officials support the government-MILF peace overtures. 

The EU has also been helping push the peace initiative forward, through technical interventions, and fiscal support.

Ledoux and the members of the EU delegation praised the accomplishments of ARMM government in ensuring peace and development in the region.