Cotabato City- The Philippine National Police – Peace Process and Development Center (PNP-PPDC) paid a courtesy visit to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) Headquarters on 29 September 2025 led by Acting Chief Police Brigadier General Elmer Esquivel Ragay, who underscored the national security sector’s continued commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process.

During the visit, IDB Chief of Staff Frank Johansen, alongside the Deputy Chief of Staff and Verification, Monitoring, Assistance Team (VMAT) Internationals, provided the PNP delegation with an overview of the IDB’s functions and mandate. This mandate centers on overseeing the decommissioning of both Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and their weapons, which serves as the essential confidence-building measure for realizing lasting peace and stability in the BARMM.

The meeting successfully facilitated inter-agency dialogue, with the PNP-PPDC delegation reaffirming their unwavering support for the IDB’s effort. This collaborative commitment between the security sector and the IDB is instrumental for ensuring the successful continuation of the peace agreement’s normalization track, particularly as it relates to security transitions, the effective reintegration of former combatants, and the institutionalization of peace dividends in the region. The visit highlights the shared responsibility in transitioning the BARMM from conflict to democratic governance and socio-economic transformation. #MAM