AFP, BARMM eye security initiatives

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) met with the interim chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to discuss strengthening collaboration on peace, security, and development in the region days after the 2025 midterm polls.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete paid a courtesy call on BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua on Thursday at the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City, according to Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Central and the 6th Infantry Division (6th ID), who accompanied Nafarrete.

Gumiran disclosed that the two leaders focused their discussion on enhancing cooperation between the military and the regional government to advance peace, security, and development initiatives in BARMM.

He also stressed the importance of inter-agency coordination in supporting BARMM’s governance.

During the meeting, Nafarrete and Macacua discussed key initiatives for BARMM’s ongoing transition, including the implementation of security measures and governance mechanisms at the local level.

They also discussed the commitment to pursue and operationalize the Bangsamoro Task Force on Ending Local Armed Conflict at the provincial and municipal levels to address security threats, community-based violence and infrastructure development issues.

Both leaders explored ways to enhance the peace process, focusing on improvements to normalization and transformation programs. This included the establishment of a training center, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to provide livelihood and economic opportunities for decommissioned combatants, aiming to hasten their reintegration into society.