The TPMT welcomes renewed commitment by the Peace Implementing Panels in the implementation of the CAB

DAVAO CITY, 04 August 2026 – The Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) would like to express its sincere appreciation for the Peace Implementing Panels of GPH and MILF for convening their 38th meeting on 4 August in Davao. The meeting is important to keep the Bangsamoro peace process on track and very timely following the recent appointment of Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new GPH Panel Chair.

We believe that the contribution of fully-fledged Panels to the implementation of the CAB continues to be essential.

The Bangsamoro region is currently preparing for the first regional Parliamentary elections on 14 September which is a formidable achievement of the peace process. As President Marcos noted in the recent SONA, these elections are a critical accomplishment under the CAB, and signify the end of the transition phase and the termination of the political track. But it would be a mistake to assume that the peace process is nearing its conclusion.

The normalization track ranks parallel in importance to the political track. Once the election is successfully completed, focus in the implementation of the CAB will  shift to normalization. Much work remains to be done on the full range of normalization commitments by both the Government and the MILF. This requires a central role for the Panels in overseeing a reinforced implementation of the normalization track.

The Bangsamoro peace process has been held in de facto abeyance for far too long. We call on the Panels to re-engage in focused dialogue to address current challenges and develop a roadmap and implementation timeline to instill new momentum into the process with the aim to bring the CAB to a successful conclusion.

We welcome the fresh commitment today by both Parties to the primacy of the peace architecture led by the Panels as expressed in the Declaration of Continuity. We were encouraged by the spirit of trust and effective cooperation that was demonstrated by Chairs Sarmiento and Iqbal, and the respective Panel members.

We note as positive the continued commitment by both Parties to the implementation of the CAB. The TPMT stands ready to continue our monitoring assignment which began in 2013, and work closely with both Parties in the continued implementation of the CAB for the benefit of the Bangsamoro and the Philippines. ### Featured photo courtesy of OPAPRU Comms