It is the desire of the Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan (KAPATIRAN), formerly the RPMP-RPA-ABB, for the democratic aspirations of the people to rule over the governance in our country. Notwithstanding persistent problems of vote buying and electoral cheating, the KAPATIRAN believes that it will be to the best interest of good governance if elected officials set aside sectarian affiliation interests in performing their functions in the offices of government to which they have been elected by the people.
We are in full agreement and support the statement of His Excellency President “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to unite with all contesting political parties and to recalibrate priorities after the 2025 midterm-elections. His intention to deliver immediate solutions to the problems of the people and the country and, related to this, assess the performance of high-ranking officials calling for the courtesy resignations of his cabinet members is logical. The KAPATIRAN, therefore, respects Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.’s courtesy resignation last May 23, 2025. At the same time, we call on President Bongbong Marcos to ensure that the assessment of the performance of government officials and the calibration of government programs would continue, further support and enhance the good performances.
The KAPATIRAN, f.k.a. RPMP-RPA-ABB, has long been pursuing its peace process with the government since it signed the 2000 Peace Agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and its Clarificatory Implementing Document in 2019 . Under the stewardship of Secretary Galvez, the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), as the mandated office to oversee the implementation of government peace program, achieved numerous milestones towards the full implementation of the provisions and government commitments defined in the Clarificatory Implementing Document to the 2000 Peace Agreement. President Bongbong Marcos declared the directive under his administration to finish and bring to conclusion the implementation of the provisions of the Peace Agreement between the GRP and the RPMP-RPA-ABB. The stewardship of Secretary Galvez has led the OPAPRU in continuously achieving concrete gains for this. It is therefore most important at this point for Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. to continue and ensure the momentum for ensuring the success of the directive of President Bongbong Marcos.
We are now appealing to President Bongbong Marcos for the reappointment of Carlito Galvez Jr. as the Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace , Reconciliation and Unity. His continued stewardship of this office will ensure that the peace program and policy of the present Administration will be sustained and continue to gain successes. This would also impact the advancement for more success in the other peace engagements of the government, particularly, with that of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Maria Veronica P. Tabara-Ka. Inca
National Chairperson, KAPATIRAN
May 26,2025
