The Manila Times
(UPDATE) FORMER Local Government secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento has been appointed as the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, bringing his long record in local governance and legislative reform to the government’s peace-building efforts, Malacañang said Tuesday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Sarmiento would replace Carlito Galvez Jr., who has stepped down “after years of dedicated service to the country’s peace agenda.” “Secretary Sarmiento’s appointment marks a natural progression of the country’s peace work. With security and normalization milestones largely in place, the process now enters a phase that calls for civilian leadership — centered on reconciliation, local governance and socioeconomic reintegration,” Castro said during a press conference. “This is especially vital in the Bangsamoro as it moves toward its first parliamentary elections and the full realization of the Comprehensive Agreement, and Secretary Sarmiento’s background in local government and public administration equips him well for the task,” she added. Castro reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to a just and lasting peace, and called on all peace partners, stakeholders and communities “to stand with Secretary Sarmiento as he takes up this vital work.” Sarmiento’s entry into the peace portfolio comes with a background that combines executive leadership and legislative experience, including direct involvement in crafting measures that laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). A former member of the House of Representatives representing the first district of Samar from 2010 to 2015, Sarmiento served during a critical period when Congress deliberated on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. He was the principal author of House Bill 4994, which sought to establish a new autonomous political entity in Muslim Mindanao, replacing the previous regional framework. The measure, while not enacted in its original form, became part of the legislative progression which had set the framework for subsequent versions of the proposed legislation that ultimately contributed to the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the establishment of BARMM — widely regarded as a milestone in the country’s peace process. Sarmiento also authored and co-authored several major national laws, including Republic Act (RA) 10630, which strengthened the juvenile justice system, and RA 10364, which expanded the country’s anti-trafficking framework. He was also an original author of RA 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code, and RA 11392, which institutionalized national performing arts companies. Sarmiento served as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from September 2015 to June 2016, where he oversaw key national bodies involved in peace and security, including serving as chairman of the National Peace and Order Council and vice chairman for disaster preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. As DILG chief, he sat in multiple interagency bodies such as the Justice Sector Coordinating Council and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, providing him exposure to cross-sectoral coordination — an essential component in advancing peace and reconciliation efforts. House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong welcomed the appointment of Sarmiento. In a statement, Adiong said he is confident that Sarmiento will bring “fresh energy and effective leadership to the crucial task of advancing lasting peace in Mindanao and across the Philippines.” He noted Sarmiento’s “extensive experience in public service, local governance, and his proven commitment to inclusive development and community empowerment.” “I look forward to working closely with him and the entire Opapru (Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity) team to strengthen the gains of the peace process, promote reconciliation and foster unity among our diverse communities. Together, we can build on the foundations already laid and ensure that every Filipino, especially those in conflict-affected areas, benefits from genuine and sustainable peace,” Adiong, a member of the House Committee on Muslim Affairs, added. Meanwhile, Castro said the president extended his gratitude to Galvez for his steadfast leadership of Opapru, particularly in advancing the implementation of signed peace agreements and sustaining the gains of the Bangsamoro transition. “His contributions — first as a soldier, and later as a peace negotiator and adviser — reflect a lifetime of service to the Republic, and the nation owes him a profound debt,” she said. Galvez announced his retirement from public office, citing personal and family obligations as the primary reason. “This decision is borne of a personal necessity to attend to the health of my wife, and to devote myself to my family — a commitment that is, perhaps, long overdue,” he said. Galvez expressed gratitude to Marcos for extending his tenure, allowing him the continuity “to see our shared peace initiatives through to this chapter.” Galvez described Sarmiento as a “champion of good governance and a man of peace.”
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