KORONADAL CITY — Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento on Sunday called on political parties and candidates to help ensure the successful holding of the historic Bangsamoro parliamentary elections on Sept. 14.
“We appeal to all candidates and political parties to work toward a successful first parliamentary election in the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), without undermining the right of the Bangsamoro electorate to freely participate in casting their votes,” he said.
Sarmiento, concurrent chair of the government’s Peace Implementing Panel with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), lauded the MILF for signing on Aug. 31 the Joint Pledge of Commitment to ensure peaceful, orderly and credible first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro region.
READ: Political tensions, violence cast shadow over BARMM polls
The parties also agreed on the Guidelines for Mutual Understanding between the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group of the government and the MILF to govern ceasefire-related functions during the upcoming polls in the BARMM.
The recent signing of these agreements underscores the serious commitment of the parties to protect and insulate the gains of the Bangsamoro Peace Process from any untoward election-related incidents, Sarmiento said.
He also urged political parties to strictly abide by the orders and protocols issued by the Commission on Elections, particularly the gun ban.
Last Sept. 1, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his support for the upcoming elections in a statement at the start of National Peace Month.
“Be assured that this administration will do everything within our mandate to ensure that the elections are safe, peaceful, and credible,” he said. /mcm
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