Implementing 2014 CAB a work cut out for civilians, says MILF exec
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Implementing the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) requires sustained civilian governance and institutional coordination, a senior Moro Islamic Liberation Front official (MILF) said.
This as the group welcomed the appointment of Mel Senen Sarmiento as new head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel (PIP), underscored that the next phase of the peace process is “civilian work,” emphasizing the need for governance experience over purely security-oriented approaches.
“This is civilian work. It requires the kind of governance experience that Secretary Sarmiento brings — his understanding of municipal administration, regional development coordination, and national government — BARMM intergovernmental work,” Iqbal said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Sarmiento following the resignation of Carlito Galvez Jr., whose departure took effect immediately earlier this week.
Sarmiento, 64, is a veteran public servant with experience spanning local and national government. He previously served as congressman of Samar’s first district, mayor and vice mayor of Calbayog City, and secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Iqbal, who also serves as MILF first vice chairman and chief negotiator, said Sarmiento’s civilian background aligns with the current demands of the peace process, particularly as implementation shifts toward governance, normalization, and development.
The MILF official stressed that while foundational agreements have already been secured, completing the CAB requires “the harder, less visible work” of institution-building and service delivery in the Bangsamoro.
The CAB, signed on March 27, 2014 between the Philippine government and the MILF, laid the groundwork for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, replacing the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Iqbal noted that progress in recent years included the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the initial phases of decommissioning of former MILF combatants, milestones he described as “historic achievements” during Galvez’s tenure.
However, he acknowledged that key components of the normalization process remain pending. The MILF had earlier suspended the decommissioning of 14,000 combatants in July 2025 and paused aspects of its engagement with the government in March 2026, pending leadership changes on the government’s side of the peace panel.
With Sarmiento’s appointment, Iqbal said the MILF sees an opportunity to resume momentum and complete the remaining obligations under the peace agreement.
“The Bangsamoro’s future depends on whether we finish what we started. The MILF stands ready to contribute fully to that work,” he said.
Looking ahead, the MILF called for direct engagement with the new OPAPRU leadership, emphasizing that the final phase of the peace process requires close partnership between the two sides.
“The work ahead requires partnership, not parallel processes,” Iqbal said, citing priorities such as completing normalization, strengthening fiscal and governance capacity in BARMM, ensuring credible parliamentary elections, and delivering development to conflict-affected communities.
He added that while the institutional framework for Bangsamoro governance is already in place, the success of the peace agreement now hinges on effective civilian-led implementation and sustained cooperation between national and regional stakeholders. (Contributed story)
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