Ex-MILF combatants to get subsidized Hajj
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) has expressed its full support to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) leadership in sending 500 former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to perform a free Hajj pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority and the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’, aims to provide the beneficiaries with the opportunity to fulfill one of Islam’s Five Pillars — the Hajj, a sacred religious journey that every physically and financially capable Muslim is required to perform at least once in their lifetime.
Under the program, the selected beneficiaries, who are among the decommissioned members of the MILF, will receive full government sponsorship covering travel, accommodation, transportation within Saudi Arabia, and administrative fees, allowing them to focus solely on the spiritual aspect of their pilgrimage.
The OSAP said the initiative demonstrates the Marcos administration’s continuing commitment to the normalization and reintegration of former MILF fighters into mainstream society, in line with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF.
BARMM officials said this latest batch of pilgrims follows a similar program earlier implemented by the regional government in which 350 individuals, including 200 decommissioned combatants, were granted free Hajj subsidies as part of peace-building and community rehabilitation efforts.
According to Islamic scholars, the Hajj involves several sacred rites — including entering a state of spiritual purity known as Ihram, circumambulating the Kaaba, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah, standing in vigil at Mount Arafat, staying in the tent city of Mina, and symbolically stoning the devil at the Jamarat walls — all performed as acts of devotion and humility before God.
Saudi authorities have implemented modern systems to ensure the safety and comfort of millions of pilgrims, including crowd-management measures, cooling facilities, and digital platforms for tracking and scheduling rituals.
For the former combatants, the free Hajj is seen not only as a spiritual milestone but also as an affirmation of their renewed identity as peaceful citizens contributing to regional harmony and development.
BARMM officials said the program complements ongoing socio-economic initiatives for ex-combatants, which include livelihood training, cash assistance, housing support, and skills development under the normalization process.
They said the inclusion of a spiritual component such as the Hajj pilgrimage strengthens the holistic approach to reintegration, helping participants rediscover a sense of dignity, purpose, and belonging as they rejoin their communities.
Officials from both the OSAP and BARMM hope that this initiative will deepen the resolve of former MILF members to sustain the peace process and serve as an inspiration for other combatants to embrace life beyond conflict.
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