SULU – At least 650 members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are set to undergo socioeconomic profiling this year as part of the Marcos administration’s peace agenda, marking another significant step toward the full implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MNLF.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. announced that the profiling process, launched on June 24, will initially involve 480 MNLF members from Sulu in a five-day assessment, running until June 28. Each profiled combatant will receive ₱45,000 in Transitional Cash Assistance, totaling ₱21.6 million for this batch.
This profiling is a key component of the ongoing MNLF Transformation Program, which aims to reintegrate former combatants into peaceful and productive civilian life through targeted interventions. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is spearheading the initiative in partnership with the GPH-MNLF Management Committee and other peace stakeholders.
From June 18 to 20, a total of 537 firearms from MNLF members in the municipalities of Patikul and Talipao were documented—an essential step for qualification into the program.
“The government through the OPAPRU and MNLF share a common vision: to uplift the lives of our MNLF brothers and sisters and bring long-lasting peace and sustainable development within the MNLF communities and across Bangsamoro and Mindanao,” Galvez said.
Government Support and Investments
In support of the program, the national government allocated ₱130 million to MNLF communities in 2024 and has earmarked another ₱122.1 million for this year. An additional ₱373 million is scheduled for 2026 under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, which funds projects such as roads, livelihood initiatives, electrification, water systems, and housing.
The program was first launched in Basilan in September 2023, with over 2,000 MNLF members from various provinces, including Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Norte, North Cotabato, and Cotabato City, undergoing profiling in August 2024.
Community and Partner Support
Mohammad John Usman of the MNLF Lupah Sug State Committee thanked OPAPRU and the security sector, saying, “This program is helpful to the MNLF combatants not only for the livelihood cash assistance but also to their heart and mind… That the government is still continuing the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.”
The Transformation Program includes four key components: security, socioeconomic development, confidence-building, and community healing and reconciliation. Under the socioeconomic aspect, support includes rice provisions, health insurance from PhilHealth, civil registration assistance, and transitional cash assistance.
Academic and security institutions have also expressed their commitment. Sulu State College President Prof. Charisma Ututalum stressed the role of education in peacebuilding, while military and police officials from the Western Mindanao Command and PNP Peace Process and Development Center voiced full support for the initiative.
A Call for Continued Cooperation
DSWD Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay, through his representative, said the goal is to ensure MNLF members have “equal access to rights, opportunities and the freedom to live and thrive.”
Retired BGen. Buenaventura Pascual, Chairperson of the GPH Management Committee, urged MNLF members to participate actively, sharing opinions and suggestions during consultations to help ensure the program’s success.
Member of Parliament Uttoh Salem Cutan, Chair of the MNLF Management Committee, also appealed for unity, saying, “We are working closely with the national government to ensure all interventions will uplift your livelihood opportunities. Dapat tulungan ninyo kami.”
Galvez expressed his deep appreciation to the provincial government of Sulu, the Armed Forces, and the Philippine National Police for their unwavering support. He underscored the significance of the initiative in transforming communities that were once torn by conflict into places of peace and development.
“This effort is not just about disarmament and assistance—it is about transforming lives,” Galvez said.