Military reservists in Central Mindanao back peace process

COTABATO CITY — More than a thousand military reservists from across Central Mindanao converged in Maguindanao del Norte on Saturday, September 13, pledging support for the humanitarian initiatives of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which complements the ongoing Mindanao peace process.

The activity, held at the headquarters of the 6th ID in Camp Siongco in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao del Norte, was part of Saturday's nationwide celebration of the 46th National Reservist Week 2025, organized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Officials from various peace advocacy groups and local executives in Central Mindanao, including Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao, told reporters on Sunday, September 14, that they were moved by the military reservists’ commitment to the Mindanao peace process, saying it made the gathering at Camp Siongco stand out from similar events held elsewhere in the country.

Male and female Army, Marine, and Air Force reservists from Muslim, Christian, and non-Moro Indigenous communities across Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani provinces, as well as the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, Koronadal, and General Santos, participated in the activity held at Camp Siongco.

The gathering was jointly facilitated by 6th ID’s commander, Major Gen. Donald Gumiran, their assistant division commander for reservist and retiree affairs, Col. Ruben Aquino, Col. Florendo Politod, Jr. of the 12th Regional Community Defense Group in Region 12 and his counterpart in the Bangsamoro region, Col. Moh-Yusoph Hassan.

“The activity was a big success. We ought to thank all who participated in the event, many of them from far places,” Gumiran told reporters on Sunday, referring to their celebration of the 46th National Reservist Week 2025. 

Many of the reservists told reporters they are committed to supporting the 6th Infantry Division’s peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts, which aim to strengthen the national government’s peace initiatives with Moro communities in Central Mindanao.

Among the reservists who showed up at the venue of the gathering were merchants, health workers, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, Teduray tribal leaders, medics from government and private emergency response groups in Cotabato City and the nearby Bangsamoro and Region 12 provinces.

More than a thousand Reserve Officers Training Course cadets from different colleges also joined the day-long activity at Camp Siongco.