President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday expressed optimism for peace and development in Mindanao as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) holds its first parliamentary election next month, describing it as the culmination of decades-long peace efforts.

“So, that is why the elections in September are so important for the development of Muslim Mindanao. And it was just pointed out to me that the elections in September will be 50 years after the Tripoli Agreement,” Marcos said during the question-and-answer session of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Presidential Luncheon at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

“And if you want to go even further, the peace process began in 1968. And so this is the fruition of that entire process that went on from, shall we say, ‘68 then to the Tripoli Agreement, and then now we have BARMM, and we will have an elected parliament,” the President added.

The first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament election is expected to take place in BARMM on September 14.

The President said he has great confidence in the region because former secessionist fighters who were literally in the mountains fighting government forces are now out there campaigning to be members of the Bangsamoro Parliament.

According to Marcos, participation in the electoral process is the clearest sign that they have adopted the path of choosing the political process over picking up their weapons, to bring peace and, hopefully, progress to the region.

And as long as there is a credible and transparent election this September, that will be a huge step forward for the regional government of BARMM, the Chief Executive added.

Another improvement is that, in the past, the government used to fight on two fronts—battling the communist insurgency and a secessionist movement —but now they have been markedly reduced, the President pointed out.

Marcos also said he can already anticipate the tremendous progress and development in the BARMM with the recent developments.

“I joke with some of my friends from the area. I said, when I’m done being president, I’m moving to Mindanao simply because the opportunities are just incredible,” said the President. Presidential News Desk