PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday asked the military to support the peace initiatives in Mindanao, appealing to the security organization to give the newly established regional government a chance to transition and govern.
Addressing the soldiers of the 6th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) stationed at Camp Siongco in Sinsuat, Maguindanao, President Marcos said the government’s peace pact with Muslim secessionists is the way forward and achieving a peaceful and progressive region will benefit ordinary people.
“And because of the ongoing transition, the military’s mission will also change”, Marcos said adding that he hopes to attain a period of lasting peace and progress in strife-torn region.
“If we are able to do that, we are able to support. Kung dati natin silang nilalabanan, they are still learning how to become a government. And we must give them a chance to learn how to become a government. We should help them,” he said.
“‘Yung mga dati nga nating kumakalaban sa Pilipinas, kumakalaban sa atin, kumakalaban sa inyo, ay ngayon naman ay mas magiging maayos for everyone involved. Na kung tayo ay magtulungan at tulungan natin sila, para – so that the functions of government will become ordinary in BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).”
The military’s new role, he said, is to support the peace, and should continue doing so to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.
But he warned of the spoilers, which the President said could still threaten regional stability.
There are still extremist groups without ideology who resorted to banditry and sowing chaos.
“They don’t talk of the religion, of ideology. Basta’t nagki-kidnap na lang, gumagawa na lang ng gulo, murder for hire, ‘yung mga ganyan. ‘Yun, nandiyan pa rin ang threat sa inyo diyan, kaya’t you cannot let your guard down also,” he told the troops.
“You have to stay vigilant and stay careful so that this peace process, hindi naman pumutok ito. And pagka may nangyari, eh tigil lahat. We will have to start again and talk to everybody again.”
And if the military can keep the peace in their jurisdictions, it will be a big help to the peacekeeping process.
Prior to meeting soldiers in Maguindanao, the commander-in-chief was in Cotabato City for the inauguration of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
The President assured the Bangsamoro people of his administration’s unwavering commitment to the peace process and urged the regional government to pass crucial legislations that will institutionalize local governance and ensure people’s welfare.
