Manila: The newly appointed chair of the Government Peace Implementing Panel (GPIP) for the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) expressed his eagerness to work with his counterparts and implement the "remaining commitments" in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

According to Philippines News Agency, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento stated in a statement, "I look forward to working closely and constructively with my counterparts in the MILF to ensure a productive, collaborative, transparent, and time-bound implementation of the remaining commitments of the CAB."

Sarmiento accepted his appointment, expressing gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his trust and confidence. He remarked that serving as the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity while leading the government's peace panel is a significant challenge, offering a seamless alignment to advance the Bangsamoro peace process.

Emphasizing the resolve of the Marcos administration, Sarmiento highlighted that the government is doubling its efforts to implement the CAB, a landmark 2014 peace accord that ended decades of armed conflict in Mindanao and led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Sarmiento appealed to the Bangsamoro people and local and international peace partners for their continued support, stating it is crucial for achieving lasting and inclusive peace under Bagong Pilipinas. As GPIP chair, the OPAPRU chief will oversee the implementation of the CAB with the MILF, reinforcing the government's commitment to the milestones achieved with the group.