COTABATO City — The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) has voiced its full support for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) leadership’s initiative to send 500 former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants on a free Hajj pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The program, spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority and the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’, aims to fulfill a core tenet of the Islamic faith for the beneficiaries. The Hajj is a sacred journey to Mecca required of every physically and financially capable Muslim at least once in their lifetime.
Commitment to Peace and Reintegration
The selected beneficiaries are among the decommissioned members of the MILF. They will receive full government sponsorship, covering travel, accommodation, local transportation in Saudi Arabia, and administrative fees, allowing them to concentrate entirely on the spiritual rites.
The OSAP emphasized that the initiative underscores the Marcos administration’s commitment to the normalization and reintegration of former MILF fighters into mainstream society. This effort is in line with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the Philippine government and the MILF.
Spiritual Component of Normalization
Barmm officials noted that this group follows a similar, earlier regional government program that granted free Hajj subsidies to 350 individuals, including 200 decommissioned combatants, as part of peace-building and community rehabilitation efforts.
The Hajj involves several sacred rites, including entering the state of Ihram (spiritual purity), circumambulating the Kaaba, standing in vigil at Mount Arafat, and symbolically stoning the devil. For the former combatants, the free Hajj is viewed as more than a spiritual milestone; it is an affirmation of their renewed identity as peaceful citizens contributing to regional harmony.
BARMM officials stressed that the pilgrimage complements ongoing socio-economic initiatives for ex-combatants, such as livelihood training, cash assistance, housing support, and skills development. The inclusion of a spiritual component is seen to strengthen the holistic approach to reintegration, helping participants rediscover dignity and purpose.
Officials from both the OSAP and Barmm expressed hope that this unprecedented initiative will deepen the resolve of former MILF members to sustain the peace process and inspire other combatants to embrace a life beyond conflict.
