Former First Minister of Scotland visits the Philippines

On 27 August, Lord Jack McConnell, former First Minister of Scotland visited the Philippines for the second time this year.

He accompanied His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where they visited Cotabato for a number of engagements with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership, political parties and the regional police.

In Manila, he had positive engagements with Senate President Chiz Escudero, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo and Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. He also met with partners from the international community and members of civil society.

The visit also marked the launch of a new UK-government funded programme, delivered by our implementing partner, Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS). Lord McConnell and Ambassador Beaufils travelled to Camp Badre in Maguindanao del Norte to launch the programme, which aims to increase birth registration among former combatants and communities in MILF camps, enabling them to access social services and socioeconomic opportunities arising from the Bangsamoro peace process.

The launch was followed by a ceremonial handover of the birth certificates, which may seem like a simple act, but is a powerful symbol of identity, dignity, and which will enable access to services that everyone deserves. With these documents, communities can now access vital services, from education to healthcare, that are fundamental to building a brighter future.

Speaking after his visit, Lord McConnell said:

It is always a pleasure to visit the Philippines and an honour 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. During my visit to Camp Badre in Maguindanao del Norte it was exciting to see so many members of the community signing up for services they never accessed in the past. The launching of the IDEALS programme highlighted the importance of normalisation including legal identity and amnesty to support the reintegration of conflict-affected communities and contribute to long-term peacebuilding success in BARMM. Their families should benefit in future, providing real opportunities to the next generations. With the region’s first elections on the horizon, I wish all of the BARMM’s communities the best in the delivery of safe and inclusive elections.

Following the ceremonial handover of the birth certificates, a spokesperson for IDEALS said:

Birth registration does not solely provide people like decommissioned combatants the ability to establish and claim their identity, but it also allows them to access social services that were long deprived of them due to conflict. Birth registration provides protection, opportunities, and enjoyment of human rights not just for the decommissioned combatants but also for our Indigenous Peoples in BARMM.

The UK also worked collaboratively with the government on the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN), a valuable programme which supports the delivery of essential government services and various socioeconomic initiatives to MILF communities in the six government acknowledged MILF camps. The UK will continue to work side by side with the government in delivering its peace commitments to the former combatants and their families, to ensure their basic needs are met.

Following Lord McConnell’s visit, Ambassador Laure Beaufils said:

I am proud that the UK is a long-standing partner in the BARMM peace process. Lord Jack McConnell’s 10th visit to Manila and to Cotabato demonstrates this continued, long term commitment to achieving peace and stability in the Bangsamoro region. As we approach the region’s first election in 2025, the UK is proudly working with partners to promote safe, transparent, fair, and inclusive elections. And we are proud to support the acceleration of normalisation, and social and economic development across all of the BARMM, leaving no one, and no island, behind. Yesterday, we were able to hand over birth certificates to decommissioned combatants and Indigenous Peoples – this is not just an administrative formality – but a powerful symbol of identity, dignity, and hope. Such birth certificates open the door to services including health insurance, legal aid, voting, etc.  – building a better future. Together, we can build lasting peace and inclusive development, for all of the region’s communities.

Lord McConnell’s visit was also an opportunity to identify further ways for the UK to continue supporting the Bangsamoro peace process. The UK wants to see the region succeed and will continue to work with the national and regional government to secure peace and stability in the BARMM.