18 September 2024 (Iligan City) – The Local Amnesty Board (LAB) in Cagayan de Oro presented the amnesty program at the School of Peace & Democracy Planning Workshop of the Bangsamoro. This event, attended by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders from the Lanao provinces, was spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Australian Aid (AUSAID), the Development Academy of the Bangsamoro, Prosper Bangsamoro, and the BARMM’s Office of Peace, Security & Reconciliation.

The two-day workshop, aimed at enhancing participants’ capacities in planning and organizing peace initiatives, culminated in a presentation by the LAB Secretariat. The LAB secretariat introduced the mechanics and procedures of the amnesty program, providing clarifications on the current administration’s program under Executive Order (E.O.) No. 47, and its differences from the previous E.O. No. 125. Concerns regarding application requirements and qualifications were also addressed, offering MILF members a clearer understanding of the program.

Information materials and application forms were distributed to base commanders, and plans were set for future visits to their respective municipalities for the submission of these forms.

The inspiring support of both private and government agencies, combined with the warm reception from our brothers and sisters who have borne witness to the pain of conflict, sends a powerful message of hope—illuminating the path to peace in some of the darkest corners of our nation’s history.

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