PEACE DEAL FINALLY FULFILLED! Marcos Jr. backs Cordillera Autonomy as 1986 Mount Data Accord reaches milestone

MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the national government’s support for the Cordillera’s aspiration for autonomy as he witnessed the signing of the Agreement on the Fulfillment of the 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord with the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) at Malacañan Palace on September 1, 2026.

The signing formed part of the opening of the 2026 National Peace Consciousness Month, which also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the historic Mount Data Peace Accord, or “Sipat.”

“Earlier, we witnessed the signing of the Agreement on the Fulfillment of our 1986 Mt. Data Peace Accord with the CBA-CPLA. This marks the first peace agreement in our country’s history to be [meaningfully] fulfilled,” Marcos said.

“We will continue to support the Cordillera’s aspirations for autonomy and ensure that peace continues to translate into development and opportunity,” he added.

What the fulfillment agreement means

The 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord, signed in September 1986 between the government and the CPLA, marked the cessation of hostilities and opened a path toward dialogue and peace in the Cordillera.

The newly signed fulfillment agreement recognizes the milestones achieved in carrying out commitments under the peace process and provides for the continued partnership between the government and former CBA-CPLA members toward peace and development.

According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the peace process has resulted in major accomplishments, including the disposition and destruction of 339 firearms, the transformation of the CPLA into a socio-economic organization, and the integration of 481 former CBA-CPLA members and their next of kin into government programs.

The process also included the enrollment of 854 CBA-CPLA members in the PAMANA-YAKAP health program and the implementation of community-based peace and development initiatives.

The agreement further commits the parties to sustain the gains of the peace process through provincial Transformation Program plans led by local governments, with support from national government agencies.

From conflict to development

Marcos said the Mount Data Accord demonstrated that even long-standing differences can be addressed through dialogue and a shared commitment to improving communities.

He emphasized that peace should not simply mean the absence of conflict but should also result in development, opportunities and improved lives for communities.

“The milestones we commemorate today tell us that peace entails responsibility. It must be chosen, it must be lived, protected, and strengthened every single day,” Marcos said.

The President's renewed commitment to the Cordillera autonomy aspiration comes as the region continues to pursue greater self-governance through peaceful and democratic means.

The Mount Data Peace Accord is widely regarded as a major milestone in the Cordillera peace process, having helped pave the way for subsequent government initiatives and the establishment of the Cordillera Administrative Region through Executive Order No. 220 in 1987.

Kalinga delegation at Malacañang

Kalinga Governor James S. Edduba led the province’s delegation during the Malacañang event. He was joined by Kalinga Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Michael Karel Sugguiyao and Matagoan Bodong Council of Elders Chairperson Engr. Andres Ngao-i.

Their participation underscored Kalinga’s continuing involvement in the Cordillera peace process and its support for the region’s pursuit of peace, development and genuine autonomy.

The fulfillment of the 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord now marks a new chapter in the decades-long peace process, with the government and Cordilleran stakeholders seeking to translate the gains of peace into lasting development, greater opportunities and stronger communities across the region.