Ambassador Koji Haneda of Japan attended the Bangsamoro Assembly organized by Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC)

Ambassador Koji Haneda attended the groundbreaking Bangsamoro Assembly organized by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on November 27, 2017. Some 4,000 people gathered there from all over Mindanao, with more than a million others registered for the Assembly.

At the event, Ambassador Haneda met with President Duterte, MILF Chairman Murad, MNLF Chairman Jikiri, BTC Chairman Jaafar, key Cabinet peace and security officials, and other major Mindanao stakeholders. He underscored Japan’s pledge to further strengthen support for the Mindanao peace process. Later, Ambassador Haneda had dinner with Chairman Murad at Camp Darapanan upon the latter’s invitation and expressed Japan’s intention to further enhance the Japan Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) and help with Marawi City’s reconstruction as well as counter-terrorism efforts.

The next day, Ambassador Haneda visited the International Monitoring Team where Japan has dispatched its Socio-Economic Experts since 2006 and the Training Facility supported by the Embassy of Japan since 2012, and met with Bangsamoro Development Agency Chairman Dipatuan.