SPECIAL Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. on Saturday, October 18, expressed solidarity in commemorating the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), describing it as the cornerstone of peace and stability in Mindanao.
Lagdameo said the FAB, signed in 2012 between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), remains a “vital foundation and binding force” for the progress enjoyed by the Bangsamoro region today.
“This agreement stands as a testament to the collective resolve of both the government and the Bangsamoro to put an end to decades of armed conflict and to pursue a future built on trust, dialogue, and mutual respect,” Lagdameo said.
He emphasized that the FAB was not merely a document, but a “historical milestone representing the long and arduous journey of the Bangsamoro people toward achieving their right to self-determination.”
Lagdameo noted that the 2012 accord paved the way for the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and later the passage of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which formally created the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro fulfilled the Filipino nation’s promise to build a free, honest, and inclusive Bangsamoro — one that no longer needs to resort to violence or armed struggle to assert its place in our democratic framework,” he said.
Lagdameo also paid tribute to the peace negotiators, stakeholders, and families who made sacrifices for the cause of unity and reconciliation.
“The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro is more than a chapter in our history — it is a continuing story of hope, courage, and the Filipino spirit of reconciliation,” he said.
The Office of the Special Assistant to the President extended its greetings to all who contributed to the FAB’s realization and honored those who gave their lives for peace in Mindanao.
