COTABATO CITY -- The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) has expressed its full support for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) leadership's decision to send 500 former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants on a free Hajj pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Bangsamoro Pilgrimage Authority and the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta'. It aims to provide the beneficiaries, who are among the decommissioned members of the MILF, the opportunity to fulfill the Hajj, a sacred religious journey and one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Under the program, the former fighters will receive full government sponsorship, covering travel, accommodation, transportation within Saudi Arabia, and administrative fees. Officials said this allows them to focus solely on the spiritual aspect of the pilgrimage.

The OSAP stated that the initiative demonstrates the Marcos administration’s continuing commitment to the normalization and reintegration of former MILF fighters into mainstream society. This commitment aligns with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the Government of the Philippines and the MILF.

BARMM officials noted that this latest batch follows a similar regional program that previously granted free Hajj subsidies to 350 individuals, including 200 decommissioned combatants, as part of ongoing peace-building efforts.

For the former combatants, the free Hajj is viewed as both a spiritual milestone and an affirmation of their renewed identity as peaceful citizens contributing to regional development.

BARMM officials stressed that the program complements existing socio-economic initiatives for ex-combatants under the normalization process. These include livelihood training, cash assistance, housing support, and skills development.

According to officials from both the OSAP and BARMM, including a spiritual component like the Hajj strengthens the holistic approach to reintegration. They hope this unprecedented initiative will deepen the resolve of former MILF members to sustain the peace process and serve as an inspiration for others to embrace life beyond conflict.