COTABATO CITY — A German economist who has retired from the diplomatic service of the European Union (EU) is the new head of the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) of the Bangsamoro peace process.
Heino Marius takes over from former EU Ambassador to the Philippines Alistair MacDonald who passed away last year.
Marius’ designation as TPMT chair was confirmed by the peace implementing panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The TPMT was organized by the parties in 2013 to oversee the implementation of the peace deal, beginning with the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2012 and its related Annexes that was compiled into the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014.
It issues an annual public report on the progress of the implementation of the peace agreement.
The EU is traditionally expected to provide a person who will serve as chair of the five-member body. The government and the MILF each nominate two members to the TPMT.
The other TPMT members are Karen Tañada of the Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, Rahib Kudto of the United Youth for Peace and Development, Huseyin Oruc of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, and Sam Chittick of The Asia Foundation.
Armed with graduate and postgraduate degrees in Economics, Marius started his career with the International Labor Organization in Indonesia.
He joined the European Commission in 1993, serving in EU delegations in Ethiopia and India, then handled external relations work in Afghanistan, Pakistan and South East Asia.
He retired from service early this year.