Presidential aspirant and Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso received a warm welcome from Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al-hajj Murad” Ebrahim in Cotabato City on Monday, Feb. 21.

During Domagoso’s courtesy call on members of the BARRM government on Monday, Ebrahim called the Manila mayor as “our incoming president.”

“Pagbati kay (Greetings to) Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, our incoming president, welcome sa (to) Bangsamoro government,” Ebrahim, who is also the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said.

Ebrahim also said he was looking forward to working with Domagoso as BARMM faces the challenging task of sustaining the momentum of the peace process towards lasting peace in Mindanao.

“It is a challenging task because we ourselves are transforming from a revolutionary government bureaucracy,” he said.

“So, in behalf of our government, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, we welcome you Sir, and your party, dito sa (here in) BARRM, and we look forward to working with you,” Ebrahim said.

Domagoso expressed his gratitude to Ebrahim for the warm welcome during his visit to the region.

“Maraming, maraming salamat sa ating minamahal na Chief Minister, sa mga senior ministers, members of the parliament, cabinet, at ang ating mga kasamahan dito, mga kawani ng ating pamahalaan dito a BARMM. Talagang na-overwhelm kami sa good words ni Chief Minister at ng sampu ng kanyang mga kasama (Many thanks to our beloved Chief Minister, to the senior ministers, members of the parliament, cabinet, and our colleagues here, our government staff here at BARMM. We were really overwhelmed by the good words of the Chief Minister and his associates),” he said.

Domagoso vowed his support to the Bangsamoro government if he is elected as the country’s next president.

“So, of all those things that are written in those laws ay ipatutupad na lang natin (we will just implement it) so that there will be continuity, there will be predictability, yun ang importante siguro sa mga naguusap-usap na panig (that’s what’s important to all),” he said.

“Kumbaga, at least may commonality na nandyan na yung batas, nagkaunawaan na (There’s a commonality that’s there already a law), then let’s move forward to coming together, build back better, para ang lahat ng mga hangarin ay makamit naman kasi importante yung continuity program at yung mga nai-kompromiso ng mga bawat panig matupad. Especially sa parte ng gobyerno, sapagkat gobyerno naman ang naghain ng mga solusyon para sa gusto nating makamit na mapayapang komunidad (for all the goals to be achieved because continuity of program is important and the promises are fulfilled, especially on the part of the government, because the government is the one that will make it possible for the peaceful community that we all want will be achieved), he said.

Domagoso also assured that he will provide additional support to the Bangsamoro people by building more housing projects, schools, and hospitals for them.

“Sabi ko ‘on top of this law, on top of what you are wishing for, basta ako ang aasahan nila sa akin minimum basic needs, housing, education, hospital, jobs,’ sinabi ko yun kay hairman (They can expect me to provide them with the minimum basic needs such as housing, education, hospital, jobs,’ I said that to the Chairman),” he said.

Domagoso said this is the least he can do to honor those who paid the ultimate price in the decades-long struggle for justice and a better future for the Bangsamoro people.

“May awa ang Diyos, sisikat din ang araw sa ating lahat. Dahil kung hindi man napakinabangan ngayon lahat ng hinagpis, pagbuwis ng buhay, pagdanak ng dugo sa mga nagdaan, napakinabangan naman yung inaasam na kapayapaan at kasaganahan ng kanilang salinlahi, mga anak at susunod na henerasyon (God is merciful. All the grief, lost lives, and bloodshed of the past have led to peace and prosperity of this generation and the next generations),” he said.

Domagoso and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Samira Gutoc, Dr. Carl Balita, and Jopet Sison visited BARMM for the Mindanao leg of their campaign.

On the same day, Domagoso also paid a courtesy call on Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco In Kidapawan City.

Catamco thanked Domagoso's team for choosing Cotabato as one of their stops in the Mindanao leg of their campaign sorties.

"Thank you for dropping by. Kahit papaano ay nagpunta po kayo dito sa amin sa province at least nakita nyo rin kami dito. Sa amin naman welcome ang lahat ng mga candidates na marining ng taong bayan kung sino ba dapat ang ating ihalal. So, pasalamat ako dahil nagpunta kayo dito kasama pa si Dong. Tumawag ng personal at di ako makahindi kay Dong . Magkasama kami dati sa Congress, magkatabi sa Congress (At least you came to see us here in the province. We welcome all the candidates. So, I thank you for coming here with Dong. He called personally and I couldn't say no to Dong. We used to be together in Congress, we were seated side by side in Congress)."