Marcos appoints Mel Sarmiento as peace adviser, signaling a governance-driven approach to guide BARMM transition and sustain peace efforts. (Photo: House of Representatives)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Mel Senen Sarmiento as Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, tapping a seasoned civilian official to help steer the country’s fragile peace process through a critical transition period.
Sarmiento replaces Carlito Galvez Jr. at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the agency tasked with overseeing negotiations and programs tied to long-running conflicts, including the Bangsamoro peace process.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time, with key political milestones approaching in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where leaders are preparing for the region’s first parliamentary elections and the continued implementation of normalization commitments.
A shift toward governance
Sarmiento, 63, brings decades of experience across local and national government. He served as Interior secretary under former president Benigno Aquino III, overseeing local governments and internal security coordination. He also represented Samar’s first district in Congress and previously served as mayor of Calbayog City.
Unlike some of his predecessors who came from the military, Sarmiento’s appointment signals a shift toward a governance-centered approach—one that leans on political coordination, institutional reform, and local implementation rather than purely security-driven strategies.
Why Sarmiento fits the role
Sarmiento’s background aligns with the evolving demands of the peace portfolio, which now requires as much political management as it does security oversight.
His experience as a local chief executive and DILG secretary gives him insight into how national policies translate on the ground—an essential factor in implementing peace agreements that depend heavily on local governments.
His legislative track record also positions him to navigate the legal and policy dimensions of the peace process, including autonomy arrangements, transitional justice, and normalization frameworks tied to BARMM.
More broadly, Sarmiento is seen as a bridge-builder capable of coordinating across agencies, local officials, and stakeholders in conflict-affected areas—an increasingly important role as the government moves from negotiation to long-term governance.
Challenges ahead
Sarmiento steps into the role at a delicate moment. The gains of the Moro peace process must be sustained, while the transition in BARMM requires careful management to ensure stability and credibility.
Beyond the Bangsamoro, the broader peace agenda—including engagement with other armed groups—remains a complex task that will test both policy direction and political will.
For the Marcos administration, the appointment underscores a strategic shift: peacebuilding as governance. Whether that approach can hold amid competing pressures will shape the next phase of the country’s long-running quest for lasting peace.
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