His Excellency Makoto Katsura, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, gave assurance that Japan will pour in more assistance to the ongoing peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ambassador Katsura pronounced this yesterday during his meeting with the MILF Central Committee headed by Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Shariff Kabunsuan. “The government of Japan remains steadfast in its commitment to support the peace process in Mindanao,” Katsura said, adding that “Japan has a moral obligation to help its neighbors in Asia without any political ambition and interests other than sincere hope that we will be of help to nation-building efforts.”


Ghazali Jaafar, Vice Chairman of the MILF for Political Affairs, Mohagher Iqbal, MILF Peace Negotiating Panel Chairman, Sammy Al Mansoor, Chief of Staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), Von Al Haq, Chairman of the MILF CCCH, and senior members of the MILF Central Committee were also present. At one hand, Political Minister Yasonori Nakayama, First Secretary Yoshihisa Ishikawa and Japanese IMT member Nagaishi Masafumi accompanied the Ambassador.

Various Japanese development projects in millions of pesos were already implemented and more are underway under the mother program, Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).

A study for the socio-economic reconstruction and development for the conflict affected areas in Mindanao (SERD-CAAM) by Japanese experts and consultants in cooperation with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has been ongoing for nearly a year.

SERD-CAAM will be used by the MILF as the master plan and guidelines for development programs and initiatives in the future.

Aside from socio-economic development assistance and infrastructure projects, Japanese assistance will also focus on peace building and conflict resolution.

Chairman Murad cited the assistance the tremendous help of Japan as they significantly complement the peace process particularly on the socio-economic aspect.

Murad, however, conveyed to Ambassador Katsura to assist as well on the political aspect of the peace process.

In response, Katsura said that Japan Embassy will find out some ways to assist on the political aspect in close coordination with the government of Malaysia.

Malaysia acts as the third party facilitator for the ongoing peace process especially on the peace negotiations.

The MILF Chairman informed Katsura of the result of the latest special meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which resulted to the ironing out of some obstacles on the territorial agenda of the peace talks.

Murad sees more challenges, even more difficult ones, as the peace talks is scheduled to proceed sometime in November this year. But he believes that with strong political will especially on the side of the government, all the stumbling blocks along the way will be overcome, thus, leading to the forging of the highly awaited comprehensive peace pact between the government and the MILF.

“I see more challenges ahead on the political negotiations. That is why we need more help from the international community and the local key players of the peace process,” Murad stressed.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Katsura turned-over yesterday a Japanese Embassy project of a Training Center for Women worth 2.8 million pesos in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.

The training center will cater for the capability building programs for the widows of Bangamoro Mujahideen. The training will be a prelude for livelihood ventures of the widows.

“I have full confidence that this building and the training services it will offer will remind us all of our collective efforts to improve human productivity of the Bangsamoro women towards self-reliance and eventually contribute to achieving the ultimate long-term goal for peace and harmony in Mindanao,” Katsura said.

Before the Ambassador flew back to Manila, he took time to dialogue briefly with the students of Sultan Kudarat Islamic Academy where he encourage the children to value education in pursuit of happiness and related how Japan made its economic progress after the World War II.

The ambassador, who by a look of him exemplifies a great picture of a father of family, of an office and institution, had indeed the touch the hearts and minds of the students who conveyed their endless gratitude before the dialogue ended. 

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