Marcos tells new BTA members to protect hard-won peace

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged newly appointed members of Parliament in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to protect gains from the Bangsamoro peace process.

Speaking at their oath-taking ceremony in Malacañang, Marcos told new BTA members, “With you at the helm, I am confident that you will continue to prove that the implementation of every single signed agreement is a step toward long-lasting peace.”

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“We have collectively achieved remarkable progress in the Bangsamoro peace process. It is our shared responsibility to protect these gains and to ensure its uninterrupted advancement,” he added.

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The president further said he takes comfort in the diversity of the country, as different faiths and histories shape the nation.

“Let us remember that at the center of our national identity is a common thread that binds us: our longing for peace and for progress. As President, I know that the Bangsamoro, through its perseverance, has made its own place in the larger story of our national history,” he also said.

The BTA serves as the interim regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Last February, Marcos signed Republic Act 12123 postponing the first parliamentary elections in BARMM from May 12 to Oct. 13 this year.

The law also stated that the term of office of the officials elected shall commence at noon on October 30, 2025.