Strong BARMM is stronger Mindanao, stronger Mindanao is stronger Philippines: Marcos

COTABATO CITY - Former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front who are now officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) turned emotional as they felt the sincerity and commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Mindanao, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

It said the BARMM officials tried to hold back tears when Marcos stressed that there cannot be a strong Mindanao without a strong BARMM, and there cannot be a strong Philippines without a strong Mindanao.

BARMM Governors Mamintal Adiong Jr, Sakur Tan, Mariam Mangudadatu, Hadjiman Salliman and Ysmael Sali.

“A stronger BARMM means a stronger Mindanao, and a stronger Mindanao means a stronger Philippines, bringing us closer to achieving our agenda,” he said.

Marcos also commended the peacekeepers who worked for Mindanao’s rebuilding efforts and urged everyone to remember those who shed blood and died for peace to finally bloom in the region as he emphasized that dreams do come true and peace with justice reigns.

He also highlighted the significant contribution of the BARMM leaders to achieve a long-lasting peace and order in Mindanao amid calls for its separation from the rest of the Philippines. 

Marcos said the call for Mindanao secession is doomed to fail “for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer constitutional travesty” as he appealed to stop the “preposterous proposal” as it will not bring any good to Mindanao.

“The new call for a separate Mindanao is doomed to fail, for it is anchored on a false premise, not to mention a sheer constitutional travesty. The current leadership of BARMM itself has repudiated this preposterous proposal. And so did the other political leaders of Mindanao,” he said, referring to the call of former president Rodrigo Duterte to secede Mindanao from the rest of the country.

“This is because there can be, as in fact there is already, genuine and effective local autonomy throughout our country, especially in the BARMM, without compromising our national integrity in the slightest degree. I strongly appeal to all concerned to stop this call for a separate Mindanao. This is a grave violation of the Constitution. Hindi ito ang Bagong Pilipinas na ating hinuhubog. Bagkus, ito ay pag-wasak mismo sa ating bansang Pilipinas,” he added.

Marcos emphasized the Constitution calls for a united and undivided Philippines.

BARMM Governors Yshmael Sali of Tawi-Tawi, Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman of Basilan, Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, and Abdulraof Macacua of Lanao del Norte, Mariam Mangudadatu and Sakur Tan, of Sulu, released separate statements opposing the secession of Mindanao and and pledged their strong support to the Marcos administration. (Mindanao Examiner)