Brunei to continue support for Mindanao peace process

PHNOM PENH – Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah has vowed continued support for the Philippine government’s peace efforts in Mindanao.

Bolkiah made the commitment during a bilateral meeting Saturday with President Marcos on the sidelines of the 2022 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the Sokha Hotel here.

“We will continue to support your government’s efforts in ensuring peace and stability through various initiatives in the southern Philippines, including our participation in the unification and modification assistance,” Bolkiah told Marcos.

Marcos, for his part, recognized the role played by the Brunei Sultanate in the Mindanao peace process, which he said has been proceeding despite the roadblocks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brunei is part of the International Monitoring Team and the independent decommissioning body in the peace process in southern Philippines.

“I’m happy to be able to inform, Your Majesty, that the peace process is proceeding along. Although we have extended the Transition Authority for another three years simply because they were unable to do their job during the pandemic,” Marcos told Bolkiah.

“This process – the negotiations between the Bangsamoro and our Muslim brothers and sisters began in 1976 – I believe, is the fruition of that. And we are very happy,” he said.

The President informed the sultan that there would be a parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2025, adding he looks forward to have a functioning autonomous government in the south, the result of many years of hard work.

In response, Bolkiah commended Marcos for his tireless effort for the attainment of peace and prosperity in the BARMM.

The Marcos administration has allocated P74.4 billion for the Bangsamoro region for 2023.

In September, Marcos appointed 80 new members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), dominated by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with 41 members and 39 from the government.

Under Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the BTA “shall be the interim government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region during the transition period,” with legislative and executive powers and functions of the Bangsamoro government.

In October last year, former president Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11593 which moved the date of the BARMM parliamentary and regional elections from May 2023 to May 2025. This added three more years to the BTA.

Marcos also told Sultan Bolkiah that he is glad the Philippines was able to extend assistance to Brunei’s health care system, especially at the height of the pandemic.

“We are very proud of our health care workers, especially during the pandemic where worldwide they have been recognized as they are – for their competence and for their sacrifices,” Marcos said.

Brunei Darussalam was among the countries that donated COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines last year.