Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Sept. 17, expressed her gratitude to Japan for its support in Mindanao’s development and the peace process.
The Vice President and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya met on Tuesday to discuss the two countries’ bilateral relations, as well as the economic and peace process development in the Mindanao region.“
VP Duterte also conveyed her appreciation for Japan's development cooperation projects in Mindanao and expressed her gratitude for Japan’s commitment to the Mindanao Peace Process,” the statement from the Japanese Embassy in Manila read.
The statement also said that Endo also expressed Japan’s support to the Mindanao region and the ongoing peace process there.
“He (Endo) also affirmed that Japan will continue to provide support for the Mindanao Peace Process for the succeeding years, and it will keep a close eye on the situation to ensure that next year’s election for the Bangsamoro Parliament will be held in a fair and democratic manner,” the embassy said.
The first regional Bangsamoro parliamentary elections will be held next year after the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) approved the Bangsamoro Electoral Code.
As the Philippines commemorates Peace Month this month, the Marcos administration earlier said that it expects more members of rebel groups to apply for amnesty.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Director Darwin Wally Wee of the Communications and Public Affairs Services clarified that the amnesty will obliterate the sins borne out of the rebels’ political struggle or cause but not any heinous crimes they committed.
The official reported that the latest data showed some 794 applications for amnesty.
The number included members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the New People’s Army (NPA).