COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Delivering one of his shortest public speeches on Friday, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to work for Filipino Muslims up to his last day in office.
At the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim parliament, Duterte revealed his “solemn vow” to the Bangsamoro people and God.
“Let me repeat and reiterate my solemn promise to you, a sacred one, that in my term and for the next three years we will all work and truly work for the benefit of the Bangsamoro people,” the President told BARMM officials, led by interim chief Minister Murad Ebrahim and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
The President repeatedly said he was happy for the success of the new political entity in Mindanao and considered it as one of his greatest birthday gifts.
“To my dear Bangsamoro sisters and brothers in the BTA, the power to chart the course of your region’s future is now in your hands,” the President said. “I trust that you will wield this power with utmost care.”
READ: Duterte to Bangsamoro leaders: Wield power carefully; BARMM fate up to you
“As we enter the transition period, I ask everyone to work towards building lasting peace and inclusive progress that will benefit entire Mindanaon and the country as well,” he added.
The BARMM is the result of the decades-long peace negotiation between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
It will run the affairs of the now defunct the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) until a new set of officials is elected in 2020.
The President earlier thanked the Commission on Elections, the teachers who served as poll officials, the police and military officials and all those who contributed to the peaceful conduct of the plebiscite last January 21 and February 6.
Accompanying the President in this historic event were Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, and Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez.
Before delivering his nine-minute speech, Duterte banged the “Agong” that signaled the inauguration of BARMM.
The President said that the momentous event would bring the country closer to the realization of a peaceful region, which would benefit not only the autonomous region but all people who call Mindanao home.
Chief Minister Ebrahim told President Duterte that the MILF submitted on Monday the complete list of combatants and weapons to the international body for decommissioning, which is the first phase of the peace process.
He said that the banging of the “Agong” marks the new beginning of the Bangsamoro.
“Today marks a new history for us; we are starting a new kind of jihad, a jihad against poverty, against want, and against neglect,” he said.
When the MILF started the armed struggle, Ebrahim said they pledged before the Holy Quran for guidance and “today as we start our governance we will also do the same.”
Ebrahim vowed Islamic-based moral governance in running the affairs of the new political entity as he believes this is the antidote against radicalism and extremism. /ee
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