ASEANEWS HEADLINE | MANILA: MILF suspends laying down of arms amid BARMM polls
The BARMM administration building in Cotabato City.PNA / Photo courtesy of Bangsamoro Information Office-BARMM
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Murad stops participation in decommissioning
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MANILA, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has barred its members from participating in decommissioning activities after accusing the government of reneging on its promise to provide MILF combatants, who had availed themselves of the process, with the support needed for their reintegration into society.
In an order on Aug. 16, MILF chairman Alhadj Murad Ebrahim directed all fronts, commanders and members not to participate in any decommissioning activity of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) without his written approval.
The OPAPRU has denied reneging on its promise of support, saying the government had allocated P4 billion for the process since 2019.
An OPAPRU official, who requested anonymity, described Murad’s action as a “dangerous move,” noting that it might have an impact on the security of the first Bangsamoro parliamentary election in October.
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“If Murad will control their BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) especially during the campaign, then this is a form of consolidation of forces to be used in the election. This is something alarming. I cannot say how, but this movement is quite heavy because we have done a lot for the stability of the Bangsamoro region,” the official said.
On July 19, the MILF central committee issued a resolution that suspended the implementation of the fourth and final phase of the decommissioning process.
Ebrahim is reportedly questioning the inadequate benefits for the 26,000 combatants who were decommissioned.
However, the OPAPRU official said the government had already delivered so much, including the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, its laws and almost P80 billion in funds allotted during Ebrahim’s term as interim BARMM chief minister.
Ebrahim resigned as chief minister earlier this year to focus on his election campaign under the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party.
Initial reports said he was replaced by President Marcos, who installed Maguindanao del Norte Gov. Abdulrauf Macacua as the new chief minister. No reason was given by Malacañang for the move.
“If you think deeply, why would Murad issue such an order? This is a very dangerous order. For me this is a consolidation (of forces), to use the decommissioned and non-decommissioned in the election campaign,” the official said.
Reached by The STAR, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the OPAPRU assured the public last night that the government’s peace deal with the MILF in Mindanao remains strong and solid.
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“That (MILF order) is only a political statement in the light of the BARMM elections coming up,” he said.
He explained that the government through OPAPRU must comply with laws as well as the rules and regulations of the Commission on Elections related to the BARMM elections.
The election campaign period starts on Aug. 28, but the Comelec gun ban took effect on Aug. 14.
“We cannot do anything because there is a gun ban,” Galvez said.
Moreover, he noted that the decommissioning has actually been suspended since October 2023 because the MILF has yet to submit the list of its members who will turn over their firearms in exchange for cash benefits from the OPAPRU.
Once the election campaign period starts next week, Galvez said the OPAPRU will also suspend its distribution of cash benefits related to the P70-billion block grant for the entire BARMM
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