The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) is one with all men and women of goodwill around the world in thanksgiving and celebration on the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The signing of the CAB is a big and significant step forward in our quest for sustainable peace and development in Mindanao. 

IAG thanks and congratulates the peace negotiators of the GPH and the MILF for their fortitude and firm commitment to peace especially when confronted with complex and difficult issues.  Our gratitude to President Benigno Aquino III and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim for their political will, statesmanship and inspired leadership steering the talks to a successful outcome.  We are grateful to Malaysia for successfully facilitating the talks, to the International Contact Group (ICG) and the international community for providing the needed counsel, material and technical support especially during periods of difficult negotiations.  We are grateful to the technical support groups of the panels, CSOs, media, academe and religious groups who kept the faith and persevered in encouraging the parties to push forward.

There will be many hurdles and challenges to overcome in the implementation phase.  IAG will continue to help strengthen political institutions and processes, promote social cohesion and the rule of law.  We  will play our convening and facilitative role to encourage dialogue and consensus on critical implementation issues between and among diverse groups of stakeholders in Mindanao. IAG will upscale its tradition of research and scholarship to deepen and sharpen understanding and broaden the discourse and options towards building consensus on critical issues. We will continue our work for security sector reforms with due regard to changed realities and new opportunities brought about by the signing of the CAB.

The road ahead will be bumpy and full of twists and turns.  There are no shortcuts to sustainable peace and development.  Sacrifices and compromises will be required of leaders, groups and individuals just as the dividends of peace are made real to those who suffered most from war and violence.  Right after the signing of the CAB, the pact will be discussed and debated not only in the court of law but also in the bar of public opinion.  IAG calls on the courts, opinion makers and public and private leaders to weigh the issues with due consideration to the higher interests of justice, peace and development in the Bangsamoro, Mindanao and the country.  We have one good shot at Mindanao peace in the CAB.  Let us all together give our share to realize the full potential of this agreement.