President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has sought the help of the military in Mindanao to allow Bangsamoro to learn the ropes of running a government, hoping it will lead to "lasting peace and progress."
During his visit in Mindanao, Marcos met with the 6th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) stationed at Camp Siongco in Sinsuat, Maguindanao to talk to them about their renewed mission.
Marcos told the troops that with the new composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), which, he said, is a "good mix" of different families and political leaderships, their mission will change into helping the BARMM in its fulfillment of government functions.
"Alam naman natin (We are all aware) that the political leadership and the tribal leadership and the MI(LF), and the MN(LF) did not see eye to eye at the very beginning but we have been able to show them the way forward na hindi na talaga pwede na patuloy ang laban (the fighting must stop)," Marcos said.
"I bring this up to you to explain that perhaps the mission, not only of the political leadership but the mission of the military, here is going to change and that will be because I am hoping that we can look forward to a period of lasting peace and progress," Marcos added.
He said this is now how the peace process is and he wants the military to support it by letting the Bangsamoro learn the ropes of self-government, which at present remains an "extraordinary" proposition.
He said if in the past, the military was fighting them, now the military must support them and turn this "extraordinary event" into something "ordinary" in the future.
"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," the President said.
"Yung dating kumakalaban sa Pilipinas, kumakalaban sa atin, kumakalaban sa inyo, ngayon naman ay mas magiging maayos for everyone involved na kung tayo ay magtulungan (Those who used to fight against the Philippines, against us, against you, it is now orderly for everyone involved if we help each other)," he added.
Tulungan natin sila para (Let's help them) so that the function of the government will become ordinary in BARMM, ngayon extraordinary pa, e. Bago pa, e. Kaya't sana makarating tayo sa araw na 'yan na pangkaraniwan na ang pang-araw araw na patakbo ng gobyerno ng BARMM (because now, it is still extraordinary. It's still new. So, I hope someday the BARMM running its government will be common)," he furthered.
The President attended the ceremonial opening of the BTA that will govern for a term from 2022 to 2025, with headquarters in Cotabato City, on Thursday, Sept. 15.
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari was also present during the inaugural session. He was seated beside the President.