Government Peace Implementing Panel chair and Peace Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento (right) and MILF Peace Implementing Panel chair Mohagher Iqbal shake hands after signing an agreement related to the Bangsamoro elections at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Aug. 31, 2026. —Photo by OPAPRU
COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have tapped two peace process mechanisms to help ensure the peaceful conduct of the upcoming Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, following a high-level engagement on Monday.
Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento, who also heads the GPH Peace Implementing Panel (PIP), led a contingent to the MILF’s Camp Darapanan to advance the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The parties first signed the “Guidelines for Mutual Understanding between the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (Ahjag) of the GPH-MILF for Ceasefire-Related Functions during the 14 September 2026 BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Parliamentary Elections.”
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READ: Marcos vows safe, peaceful, credible BARMM polls on Sept. 14
‘Shared commitment’
Sarmiento and his MILF PIP counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, also signed a pledge of commitment for the peaceful, orderly and credible conduct of the Bangsamoro elections.
READ: Comelec all set for BARMM polls
He thanked MILF Chair Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim and members of the MILF Central Committee for welcoming his delegation to the event, which was held at Camp Darapanan, the MILF’s main headquarters.
Sarmiento was accompanied by Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, and Police Brig. Gen. Jemuel Siason, deputy director for administration of the Police Regional Office-BARMM.
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“This is another important demonstration of our shared commitment to coordination, cooperation, and a peaceful and orderly first BARMM parliamentary elections,” Sarmiento said in a statement after the signing of the guidelines involving the CCCH and Ahjag.
Both bodies are mechanisms established by the GPH and MILF under the Bangsamoro peace process.
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The guidelines prevent misunderstandings between government forces and the MILF. /cb
