Former President Rodrigo Duterte called for his home region Mindanao to split from Philippines Mindanao was plagued with violence and conflict for decades but is in transition to autonomy following peace agreement MANILA: Officials from the Philippines’ only Muslim-majority region in Mindanao have pledged their support for unity in the country after former President Rodrigo Duterte called for the separation of the southern islands from the rest of the archipelago nation. Duterte last week called for the independence of his home region of Mindanao, located in the southern Philippines, as his alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disintegrated over disagreements around efforts to amend the constitution. Marcos said amending the 1987 constitution was meant to ease foreign investments, but Duterte accused him of using constitutional change to stay in power. Officials from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which covers central Mindanao and was the heart of a four-decades-long separatist struggle until 2014, have collectively called for unity in the country following Duterte’s secessionist threats. “We emphatically call upon everyone to maintain an unwavering focus and unity in safeguarding the hard-earned gains of peace, recognizing their indispensable role in driving economic development. Distractions are not an option,” a joint statement from BARMM governors read. “The Bangsamoro People are resolved not to regress but to forge ahead together as one indomitable force, proudly celebrating our Bangsamoro identity as an integral part of the Philippine Republic.” It has been nearly a decade since the Philippine government struck a permanent ceasefire agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, ending decades-long conflict and paving the way for peace and autonomy in the region home to the biggest Muslim population in the predominantly Catholic country. BARMM, currently under an interim government, was formed in 2019 as part of the region’s transition to autonomy, which will culminate in 2025 when it will elect its legislature and executive. BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim has also urged for continued support to the incumbent government. “We … urge everyone to help protect the gains of the peace processes,” Ebrahim told Arab News on Monday. “Let us continue to support the current administration and allow peace and civility to reign over the affairs of our land.” Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu of Maguindanao del Sur, a province in Bangsamoro, said the region stands “for one and united Philippines.” She said: “In the spirit of peace and unity, we turn down any call or movement that aims to destabilize our government and eventually that would divide our nation, much (more so) the movement that would separate Mindanao (from) our beloved country the Philippines.” Duterte made history when he became the first Philippine president to hail from the resource-rich Mindanao island, which has been plagued by violence and conflict for decades, leaving many villages in poverty. His call to separate Mindanao was met with strong reactions across the country, including from security officials vouching to protect Philippine sovereignty.