Photo by Comenei Ali
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE— With the completion of the 3rd phase of the decommissioning process, Chief Minister Ebrahim said that the Bangsamoro Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have maintained their steadfast commitment in pursuit to sustainable peace in the region.
The event held today, Aug. 3, in Sultan Kudarat of this province, marked the completion of the 3rd phase of the gradual decommissioning of former MILF combatants wherein a total of 1,301 members have been added to the roster.
With this figure, total number of decommissioned combatants were pegged at 26,145 or 65.36% of the 40,000 target.
“We understand the importance of this step [decommissioning] towards our goal of achieving lasting peace in the Southern Philippines. After all, the MILF only aspires for equal opportunities and access for growth and development for the Bangsamoro people and its homeland,” said Ebrahim, who is also the MILF chairman.
On the other hand, Office of the Presidential Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said that the national government has also maintained its commitment in implementation of all signed peace agreement.
“The implementation of all signed peace agreements is on top of the Marcos’s administration five-point peace, reconciliations, and unity agenda,” Galvez said.
“The national government, through our office and other concern line agencies, is carrying out initiatives that aim to transform former MILF combatants and their families into peaceful and productive individuals and their areas into resilient and progressive community,” he added.
Decommissioning of MILF combatants is part of the implementation the Executive Order No. 79 or the Annex on Normalization signed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on April 24, 2019 which emanated from the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB).
The EO outlines four main aspects of the peace mechanism which included security, socio-economic development, confidence building-measures, and transitional justice and reconciliation.
Security and socio-economic development aspects of the said peace mechanism outlined that Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) and its partners facilitate the return of 40,000 members of MILF to the fold of law.
On the handout provided by IDB, it showed that they were able to reach the number of targets per phase with the remaining 35% of the targets to be catered in Phase 4.
Special Assistant to the President Sec. Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo commented on the synergy of various stakeholders in completion of the phase 3 decommissioning.
“The completion of the 3rd phase signifies of the strong partnership of the government and the MILF to pursue a singular mission of transforming the Bangsamoro from conflict, reflective of the Presidents vision to build a Bangsamoro that is self-governing, progressive, and effective, ” Lagdameo said.
During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), the head of the state was quoted saying “We are proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken”.
He added that BARMM “will be self-governing, it will be progressive, and it will be effective”.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ebrahim also addressed comments on the decommissioning process being particularly slow.
“For some, the process of decommissioning might be slow, but may I remind you all that this process takes some time,” he said.
Ebrahim explained that the government is not only transforming the individual lives of combatants and making them productive members of the society but even so important is transforming all communities across the BARMM to become peaceful and progressive.
He reminded everyone that the road to peace and justice in the Bangsamoro requires a ton of patience, understanding, and cooperation that transcends cultural affiliation and political clamor. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
