Cheyenne Suarez

'Parang hindi na bago': Ex-DILG chief is Marcos' new peace adviser

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x0Ccznxbqys?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>For former congressman and DILG chief Mel Senen Sarmiento, taking on the role of presidential peace adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity feels oddly familiar.</p><p>“Parang hindi na bago (It doesn’t feel new),” he told ANC’s Headstart, citing his role as chairperson of Galing Pook Foundation -  a group that recognizes, empowers, and scales up outstanding local governance programs in the Philippines.</p><p>Sarmiento, who handled the DILG portfolio at the tail-end of the Benigno Aquino III presidency, said he has been doing community development work pro bono for the past 10 years including 5 years in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. His focus in BARMM: Working with local governments for social equation and resilience programs in partnership with various groups including the OPAPRU, which was previously headed by ex-Armed Forces chief of staff Carlito Galvez Jr.</p><p>“I was in Butig [Lanao del Sur] the other day, trying to strengthen Article 10 of the Constitution, ‘yung interlocal collaboration…For almost 5 years now, nasa area po kami, tumutulong sa mga kababayan natin sa BARMM,” he said.</p><p>Sarmiento’s appointment comes at a crucial time, just months before the first regular elections in the BARMM on September 14, 2026.</p><p>As one of the original authors of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which established the BARMM, Sarmiento said he recognizes the need to strengthen the regional government in its quest for self-determination.</p><p>The new peace adviser said OPAPRU will retain its role as facilitator of the peace process, saying the process is similar to how the Local Government Code was implemented. </p><p>This is amid criticism from former BARMM senior adviser Bong Montesa that OPAPRU has now become a central political actor in the region even as thousands of decommissioned former MILF combatants have yet to transition to productive civilian life.</p><p>“The autonomy given to BARMM is the same autonomy given to local governments (in 1991),” he said, adding that BARMM will have its own parliament similar to Philippine Congress.</p><p>He also asked for more time to help with the normalization of thousands of ex-MILF combatants amid concerns that P800 million in funds for these combatants were returned to the Treasury. “Bigyan niyo po muna ako ng panahon. Kasama yun sa utos na ma-address kaagad,” he said. </p><p>Also on OPAPRU&#x27;s agenda is capacitating local governments, whose heads serve in peace and order councils.  </p>

<p>For former congressman and DILG chief Mel Senen Sarmiento, taking on the role of presidential peace adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity feels oddly familiar.</p>

For former congressman and DILG chief Mel Senen Sarmiento, taking on the role of presidential peace adviser on peace, reconciliation and unity feels oddly familiar.