12/09/2026
𝐆𝐏𝐇, 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐅 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
CAMP BILAL, MUNAI, LANAO DEL NORTE — High-ranking military, police, and peace officials met with commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (M**F) today at Camp Bilal to solidify coordination mechanisms for a peaceful, orderly, fair, and credible 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE).
The high-level security dialogue brought together Bangsamoro Parliament Member (MP) Abdullah "Bravo" Macapaar alongside fellow base commanders of the M**F–Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) Northwestern Mindanao Front Command, Brig. Gen. Bernardo Taqueban, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, and Police Major Pandapatan Tataan, Chief of Police of Munai.
Former Undersecretary David B. Diciano represented the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) to facilitate discussions between MP Macapaar, the military leadership, and the police.
The dialogue focused on synchronizing ground-level security measures, establishing direct lines of communication, and mitigating potential flashpoints in Lanao del Norte and adjacent communities ahead of the regional polls.
Highlighting the importance of sustained collaboration, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento emphasized the strategic value of early engagement between former combatants and state security forces:
"This meeting was convened to reaffirm all parties' steadfast commitment to the peace process. Sustaining open dialogue and operational synergy on the ground guarantees that the democratic voice of the Bangsamoro people can be expressed freely, securely, and without disruption,” Sarmiento said, who is also the concurrent chair of the Government Peace Implementing Panel.
The engagement builds on earlier institutional milestones achieved by both sides, notably the signing of updated operational guidelines for the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). These refined protocols strengthen joint responses to local conflicts, criminal threats, and peace-mechanism monitoring during sensitive transition milestones such as regional elections.
Both the security sector and BIAF-M**F commanders pledged continued transparency, proactive de-escalation, and shared responsibility to safeguard regional stability and foster an environment conducive to an honest and orderly democratic exercise. # # #
