New Delhi: Former First Minister of Scotland Lord Jack McConnell visited the Philippines on 27th August, accompanying His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a UK government press release stated.
During his visit, Mr McConnell visited Cotabato in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and met with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) movement. He also visited Camp Badre in Maguindanao del Norte to launch the new UK-funded program, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), which aims to increase birth registration among former combatants and communities in MILF camps.
The launch of the program was marked by the handing over of birth certificates to community members, which is a powerful symbol of identity and a link to the services that they can now access. Speaking after his visit, Mr. McConnell said: “It is always a pleasure to visit the Philippines and an honor to support the Bangsamoro Peace Process. I have seen real progress since 2014 and the elections in 2025 will be the next important milestone towards lasting peace and development in the BARMM.”