Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento is set to assume a key role in the national government’s peacebuilding program.
Sarmiento has been appointed as Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (PAPRU), drawing attention to his long record in local governance, legislation and institution-building.
His entry into the peace portfolio comes with a background that combines executive leadership and legislative experience, including direct involvement in crafting measures that laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
A former member of the House of Representatives representing the 1st District of Samar from 2010 to 2015, Sarmiento served during a critical period when Congress deliberated on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
He was the principal author of House Bill 4994, a key legislative measure that sought to establish a new autonomous political entity in Muslim Mindanao, replacing the previous regional framework.
The measure, while not enacted in its original form, became part of the legislative progression which had set the framework for subsequent versions of the proposed legislation that ultimately contributed to the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the establishment of BARMM – widely regarded as a milestone in the country’s peace process.
Beyond his role in peace-related legislation, Sarmiento also authored and co-authored several major national laws, including Republic Act 10630, which strengthened the juvenile justice system, and Republic Act 10364, which expanded the country’s anti-trafficking framework. He was also an original author of Republic Act 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code, and Republic Act 11392, which institutionalized national performing arts companies.
His legislative record reflects a focus on institutional reforms, social protection, and governance frameworks – areas that intersect with the broader mandate of reconciliation and inclusive development under the OPAPRU.
Sarmiento also brings to the position his experience as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government from September 2015 to June 2016, where he oversaw key national bodies involved in peace and security, including serving as chairman of the National Peace and Order Council and vice chairman for disaster preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
As DILG chief, he likewise sat in multiple inter-agency bodies such as the Justice Sector Coordinating Council and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, providing him exposure to cross-sectoral coordination – an essential component in advancing peace and reconciliation efforts.
Prior to his national roles, Sarmiento built his political career at the local level, serving as mayor of Calbayog City for three terms from 2001 to 2010, and earlier as vice mayor. He also served as secretary general of the League of Cities of the Philippines and chaired the Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas.