The sixth-class municipality of Butig in Lanao del Sur has a new two-story town hall, formally turned over by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Butig is known as the location of Camp Bushra, one of six camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) prior to the 2014 peace agreement with the government.

“May this edifice, a symbol of good governance and unity of our people, also be a hub for services for our constituents,” BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said in an interview on Monday.

“Our focus in Butig demonstrates our commitment to remain loyal to our roots while charting a new and prosperous future for our region,” he added.

Governors Bombit Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur and Abdulraof Macacua of Maguindanao del Norte graced the turnover on Sunday, along with the mayors of both provinces.

In a statement, Adiong lauded the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government – BARMM for prioritizing Butig and other towns in Lanao del Sur in its local governance development programs and projects.

The Maute brothers, who led the Marawi siege in 2017, are natives of Butig.

The other former MILF lairs are Camp Bilal (Lanao provinces), Camps Abubakar, Badre and Omar (Maguindanao), and Camp Rajamuda (North Cotabato/Maguindanao). (PNA)