MANILA – Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. on Wednesday assured that the government remains fully committed to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) despite a recent directive from Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Murad Ebrahim advising members not to engage in “unilateral” government programs.

Galvez described the memorandum as an internal matter for the MILF and stressed that open and sincere dialogue is the best way forward. “We trust that both the government and the MILF are sincere in upholding the CAB and preserving the peace gains achieved so far,” he said.

He also noted that some activities under the peace process will be temporarily suspended due to the election ban imposed by the Commission on Elections ahead of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on October 13. These include the decommissioning of combatants and firearms, which cannot proceed under the gun ban.

Still, Galvez said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) remains open to working with the MILF on programs that may continue without violating election rules.

“The Bangsamoro peace process remains robust and dynamic owing to the steadfast commitment of both the government and the MILF to its broader aims,” he added.