The recent statement by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for the courtesy resignation of Cabinet secretaries is far more than a polite acknowledgment of a political move. It is, in truth, a measured but unmistakable expression of dissatisfaction and warning — a reminder to the national government that the peace process in Mindanao is not a tool to be subordinated to political expediency.
At the surface, the MILF welcomes the President’s move as a “bold” recalibration. But beneath the diplomatic language lies a firm and pointed concern: that the government’s recent decision to alter the leadership composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) without MILF’s endorsement has already strained trust and violated the spirit of partnership that underpins the peace agreements.
The call to extend this wave of political “renewal” to the peace process itself is a tactful way of urging the administration to correct course — to stop sidelining the MILF in matters where their role and consent are foundational. Ebrahim’s reference to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) is not incidental; it is a clear reminder that the peace process was not handed down by political favor but earned through “decades of struggle, negotiation, and sacrifice.”
The subtext of this statement is difficult to miss: the MILF views the recent appointments to the BTA as a betrayal of the political consensus forged through peace negotiations. With the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) approaching, there is rising anxiety that Manila is once again resorting to traditional top-down politics — undermining the autonomy and representative character of the Bangsamoro leadership.
Ebrahim’s call for the President to “honor not just the letter, but also the spirit” of the agreement is particularly powerful. It suggests that while technical compliance may be cited by the administration, the deeper intent of the peace process — genuine self-rule, mutual respect, and local ownership of governance — is being compromised.
This commentary must also take into account the broader context: the Philippines is in a delicate phase where consolidating gains in Mindanao requires not just good governance, but deep sensitivity to the historical grievances and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. Every misstep in appointments, every unilateral decision by national leaders, threatens to unravel the fragile trust that has taken years to build.
As such, this statement should not be treated as just another reaction to a political reshuffle. It is a diplomatic alarm bell. The MILF is reminding President Marcos Jr. that peace is not maintained by courtesy resignations or Cabinet housecleaning alone. It is preserved through inclusion, respect, and faithful adherence to the hard-won agreements that brought the conflict to an end.
If the President is truly serious about building a legacy of peace and unity, he must move beyond political maneuvers and recommit to a genuine partnership with the MILF — one that empowers, not sidelines, the voices of those who have long fought for the Bangsamoro’s right to self-determination.