TACLOBAN CITY — The appointment of former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento as head of the government’s peace agency has drawn positive responses from Eastern Visayas officials, who said his roots in Samar could help strengthen peace and development initiatives in insurgency-affected communities.
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Eastern Visayas head Imelda Bonifacio said the designation by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is a welcome development for the region, which continues to face long-standing security challenges.
“For those of us in Eastern Visayas, the appointment of a peace adviser who hails from the region is a welcome development,” Bonifacio said in an interview. “His familiarity with local conflict dynamics allows for better context and more responsive peace and development programs.”
Bonifacio added that Sarmiento’s background and experience in Samar and nearby provinces could help improve government interventions and accelerate efforts to address the root causes of insurgency.
Sarmiento, a native of Samar, previously served as mayor of Calbayog City, representative of Samar’s first district, and later as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the Aquino administration.
Former lawmaker Edgar Mary Sarmiento, his brother, also expressed optimism that the appointment would help bring more attention and resources to Samar and Leyte, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas.
In a social media post on Wednesday, April 22, Sarmiento thanked President Marcos for the trust and vowed to work toward sustainable peace.
“Thank you to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for the trust and confidence,” he said. “We will work tirelessly to bring communities together, strengthen partnerships, and address the roots of conflict toward a more peaceful and united Philippines.”
The OPAPRU is mandated to lead the government’s peace process, promote reconciliation, and foster national unity.
Regional stakeholders said Sarmiento’s return to a key national post is expected to strengthen peace-building efforts in Eastern Visayas, particularly in areas still dealing with insurgency-related issues.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
