The Free Mindanao Movement has transmitted regional resolutions reviving the 1986 declaration of Mindanao independence to the United Nations Committee on Decolonization, its chairman announced Wednesday.

Cesar Cuntapay, chair of the Free Mindanao Movement, said the documents include copies of regional resolutions, signatures, photographs, and briefing materials on the proposed Federal Republic of Mindanao. He said these were among the requirements cited in seeking recognition of Mindanao’s belligerent status under international law.

According to Cuntapay, verification showed that the 1986 declaration remains listed on the United Nations agenda. “The Mindanao independence petition is number 17 on the UN list for deliberation,” he said, without elaborating.

He added that the declaration of Mindanao independence made in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on January 24 signaled what the group described as the resumption of UN deliberations on Mindanao’s bid for belligerent status.

The January declaration stemmed from a series of Mindanao-wide consultative assemblies aimed at forging a unified position on what organizers described as the country’s economic and political problems. The final congress was attended by leaders, sectoral representatives, and tribal groups from across the island. Participants adopted a resolution reviving the 1986 declaration of the Federal Republic of Mindanao, which has long been pending before the UN.

Consultations were held in several areas, including Zamboanga City, Sultan Kudarat for Central Mindanao and the Bangsamoro region, Cagayan de Oro City for Northern Mindanao, and Butuan City. During the Butuan meeting, organizers agreed to revive the Mindanao Independence Movement (MIM) and formally pursue an application before the UN seeking recognition of a proposed Federal Republic of Mindanao.

Cuntapay said the Committee on Decolonization has received the group’s application, which cites what it describes as the island’s historical marginalization and uneven development.

The newly organized Free Mindanao Movement is advocating separation from the Philippines, citing political neglect, social injustice, and economic disparities. The group points to historical movements such as the 1968 Muslim Independence Movement, the 1986 Federal Republic of Mindanao declaration, and a 1990 armed revolt as part of what it calls a long-standing struggle for self-determination.

The movement traces its roots to initiatives in the late 1960s, including those that followed the Jabidah incident. It also cites the advocacy of the late lawyer Reuben Canoy in 1986 and the actions of Alexander Noble in 1990, both of whom led separate efforts to establish an independent republic in Mindanao.

In a letter addressed to Antonio Guterres, the group said the Philippines is facing a grave political and economic crisis that requires what it described as a drastic change in direction and more decisive action from the international community.

“As peace-loving people of Mindanao who seek and value peace, we are requesting guidance for our belligerent application for Mindanao independence,” the letter stated.

The movement said its current proposal draws from what it called the “Kosovo model,” referring to Kosovo, and seeks a UN-supervised plebiscite that would allow Mindanao residents to decide their political future. It also cited parallels with Catalonia in Spain, where independence efforts have been pursued through referendums and civic action.

The group emphasized that its campaign would be pursued through peaceful dialogue, legal processes, and respect for human dignity. It also downplayed criticism from Manila-based opponents who argue that an independent Mindanao would not be economically viable.

Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, moves to secede from the Republic are generally considered unconstitutional. Previous attempts to establish a separate state, including the 1990 revolt, failed to gain broad support.

Despite these challenges, the Free Mindanao Movement said its petition has gained backing following consultative conferences held across six regions of the island. It maintains that a separate state would allow Mindanao to shape its own political and economic future, arguing that the island has long been treated as a lower priority in national development.

The proposal envisions a Federal Republic of Mindanao covering the main island and the Sulu Archipelago. The group said its formal plea for sovereignty is now before the United Nations and called for calm and unity as discussions move forward.