The Decommissioning of the MILF-BIAF Combatants and Weapons

Photo Credits to: Jab LA (Facebook) 

 

1,060 MILF-BIAF Combatants, Moro fighters and their weapons turned-over and decommissioned in line with the group's peace deal with the National Government granted them greater autonomy in the Bangsamoro region. 

This is the second phase; of the 30% of the 4,000 MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces members to be decommissioned until 2020.

The event was held at the Old Provincial Capitol of Maguindanao in Barangay Simuay, Sultan Kudarat Municipality, Province of Maguindanao.

According to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman and now the BARMM Interim Chief Minister, Hadji Ahod “Al-Hajj Murad” Balawag Ebrahim, the  decommissioning of combatants does not mean they are surrendering their cause. “I would like to emphasize that the decommissioning does not mean we have given up on what we used to fight for. It simply demonstrate our sincere and full commitment to fulfilling our obligations and responsibilities in the peace agreement we signed with the National Government”.

Over a thousand MILF-BIAF Moro fighters and some 900 weapons, including rocket launchers, propelled grenades, was the first batch undergo to be decommission in   Maguindanao.

The process is a key component of the normalization structure in accordance to the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and will be overseen by an International Decommissioning Body (IDB).

The IDB has guidelines and protocols to ensure that the decommissioning process will be conducted efficiently with utmost impartiality, integrity and confidentiality.

The decommissioned combatants will receive aid packages worth some P1 million. It will include P100,000 cash, housing projects and livelihood training, among others.

"The decommissioning is the first step in achieving the group’s goal to return the combatants to civilian but productive life," the BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ebrahim said.

The MILF camps will also be turned into civilians communities.

"Through this intervention, our combatants will be able to return to mainstream society. From revolutionary forces into civilian life," the BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ebrahim added.

The decommissioning event was witnessed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his presidential party. 

Last August 2019, more than 219 MILF and Moro fighters completed their basic military training in the Philippine  Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade in Cotabato Province. They are now part of the joint peace and security team that will help secure the BARMM region.

Photos Credits to the owners  

Phases of Decommissioning (Part of Normalization Annex)

Source: BTA-MP Lanang Ali

First Phase : Ceremonial decommissioning: 75 weapons and 145 MILF Combatants. 

Condition: submission of the BBL to the President of the Philippines then endorsement of the BBL to the Philippine Congress. (completed)

2nd Phase : Decommissioning of 30% of 40,000 MILF combantants which is 12,000 and 30% of 7,000 weapons of MILF which is 2,100.

Condition: Passage and ratification of BOL and establishment of Bangsamoro Transition Authority. (On-going process)

3rd phase : Decommissioning of 35% of combatants and weapons of the MILF. Condition : Establishment and Operationalization of the Bangsamoro Police as provided in Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro or CAB (Coming soon)

4th phase : Decommissioning of the remaining combatants and weapons of the MILF. Condition : Implementation of all signed peace agreements in CAB to be certified as such upon signing of the Exit Agreement by the GPH, MILF and the Third Party Facilitator (Malaysia).

(Coming soon)

Note: There is no agreed timeline between the two panels as to when the 100% Decommissioning of MILF combatants. What was posted in social media as to the timeline (2022) of the MILF decommissioning is the version of OPAPP alone. The MILF Peace Implementing Panel response to the query as to when the 100% decommissioning of the MILF combatants is AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.