In light of the recent call of His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for all Cabinet officials to tender their courtesy resignations, I, Ustadz Abdulkarim Tan Misuari, Vice-Chairman and Concurrent Acting Chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, express our unwavering support for Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo, Jr., Special Assistant to the President.

Since his appointment in 2022, Secretary Lagdameo has been a vital and steady presence in the Government of the Philippines–MNLF peace process. His role has not been ceremonial, but substantive. He has actively provided oversight and guidance in the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement through the GPH-MNLF Peace Implementing Panel and in strengthening institutional ties between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He has demonstrated an exceptional grasp of the political and historical context of the Bangsamoro struggle and has helped bridge policy and practice in ways that honor the letter and spirit of peace.

Beyond the peace process, Secretary Lagdameo’s leadership as Special Assistant to the President has been marked by efficiency, quiet strength, and reform-minded governance. He has overseen executive coordination with competence, strengthened inter-agency collaboration, and played a key role in stabilizing Cabinet operations during critical junctures of the Marcos administration. His ability to provide sound judgment and continuity in the Office of the President has earned the respect of many—including us in the MNLF.

In this period of political transition, we urge the preservation of continuity and wisdom within the President’s circle of advisers. The ongoing peace process in the Bangsamoro requires steady hands and trusted allies. Secretary Lagdameo is one of them.

We respectfully express our trust in Secretary Lagdameo’s continued service to the Republic and the Bangsamoro people, and we remain hopeful that his wisdom and commitment to peace will remain integral to the leadership of the Marcos administration.

Ustadz Abdulkarim Tan Misuari
Vice-Chairman, Concurrent Acting Chairman
Moro National Liberation Front Central Committee
Chair, MNLF Peace Implementing Committee