Cotabato City (September 8, 2019) – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte assured the decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants that “the government will assist you as you reintegrate into society and enjoy fruitful and productive civilian lives.”
Duterte on Saturday, September 7, led the second phase of the decommissioning of the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) combatants and weapons at the Old Capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
“Do not be disheartened na nag-surrender kayo ng armas. Inyo ang gobyernong ito, binigay na namin sa inyo,” he said.
Each of the decommissioned combatants will receive from the government a socio-economic package amounting to an estimated value of one million pesos. This includes 100,000 pesos cash, health benefits, scholarships for their children, housing and livelihood projects, trainings and capacity buildings, and others.
“I hope that they will be inspired to take this opportunity to improve their lives and create a better future for their families and loved ones,” Duterte said.
A total of 1,060 MILF combatants with their 920 weapons and 20 heavy weapons were decommissioned Saturday.
MILF’s continued commitment to the peace process
Bangsamoro Chief Minister and MILF Chairman Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said that the decommissioning of combatants demonstrate the sincere and full commitment of the MILF to the peace agreement they have signed with the Government of the Philippines.
“The MILF manifested again its continued commitment to fulfill its obligations under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. We assure you, and our beloved President Duterte, and all our partners in the peace process that we will continue to uphold our part of the bargain,” Ebrahim said.
The first phase of the decommissioning of MILF combatants and weapons was held on June 16, 2015 where 145 combatants with their 75 ammunitions were decommissioned.
This year until March 2020, the MILF is set to decommission 12,000 or 30% of its 40,000 combatants.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our comrades in the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces for their unwavering support for the newly established Bangsamoro Government, and for their willingness to give peace a chance,” he added.
Ebrahim said this ‘new chapter’ for the combatants can be challenging as for years, their trainings have been grounded on the armed struggle.
“But now our brave combatants will face a significantly different form of struggle: to transform the norms to civilian lives and embrace a new mindset that instead of going to the field for conflict, we will now go to the field to harvest our crops; that instead of carrying firearms, we will now carry tools for work and education; that instead of thinking about a possible encounter the next day, we can now think of opportunities that awaits us, our children and to those who will follow,” said Ebrahim.
Promises of the Government
Saida Limgas, 66, a decommissioned woman combatant from Pantar, Lanao del Sur hopes that the government will fulfill all its promises to the MILF. She is looking forward to the scholarship, housing, and livelihood program that will be granted to her and her family.
Limgas said she has been fighting for the cause of Allah (Jihad) since 1969, when she was still 16 years old.
During the decommissioning, Duterte, Ebrahim, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez and Independent Decommissioning Body Chair Fatih Ulusoy led the distribution of financial assistance to the decommissioned combatants. (###)
