(Opening statement of Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. at the press briefing and forum on the second phase of the decommissioning process, held at the Sharif Kabunsuan Cultural Complex at the BARMM regional compound in Cotabato City on September 6, 2019)
Good afternoon to all. Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.
First of all, i would like to thank all our media friends for joining us today, especially those who travelled all the way from other areas in Mindanao. Your presence here is very much appreciated.
We are celebrating another key milestone in the Bangsamoro Peace Process: the decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) members and their weapons.
Under the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the decommissioning process will enable the MILF combatants to return to mainstream society as productive and peaceful citizens, and put their weapons beyond use.
To support the transition of these ex-fighters to civilian life, the national government shall be providing them with socio-economic packages to help them start anew, and develop their capacity to earn a decent living for themselves and their families.
By and large, the decommissioning of MILF-BIAF members is a clear testament of the MILF’s desire to sustain the gains of the peace process, and President Rodrigo Duterte’s political will and unwavering commitment to fulfill all signed peace agreements.
All of these achievements are a testament of President Duterte’s desire to give what is due to the Bangsamoro people, and to transform the region into a showcase of peace and development.
We hope that through this media forum, we will be able to update you on key developments on the Bangsamoro process, specifically on the normalization track and its various components, and explain how these initiatives will help uplift the lives and create a brighter future for our Moro brothers and sisters.
Good afternoon and welcome again to all of you.
