FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Commanding General, Philippine Army welcomed the visit of the Chief Minister, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)here today, January 21, 2021.
In a courtesy call, Lt. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana received Chief Minister Ahod “Al-Haj Murad” Ebrahim as part of the celebration of BARMM’s 2nd founding anniversary. The event was a historical moment being the first-ever visit of BARMM Chief Minister in the Army Headquarters.
“I consider this unprecedented visit of the Chief Minister as historic and a blessing,” said the CGPA while recalling a time in 2018 when he was also welcomed by Ebrahim in Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao, which was then considered as the largest stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The BARMM was established when the MILF and the Philippine Government reached a phase of peace negotiations after the RA 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law was successfully ratified in January 2019, thus replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“I know and always believe that there will be a time that we will be converging together and now is the time. We are now here to continue the partnership. We will now march together in order to achieve lasting peace and progress.” said BARMM Chief Ebrahim during his speech.
“To attain peace in the island of Mindanao has always been the primordial motivation of the Philippine Army. Although the decades of conflicts in Mindanao had bred indifference and animosity; we are now in unity and reconciliation. A manifestation that we turn our wounds into wisdom rather than anger. We will walk side by side in this journey towards lasting peace and progress for the Bangsamoro region and our country as a whole,” said Lt. Gen. Sobejana.#