UNGKAYA PUKAN, BASILAN (10 November 2022) – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to a ceasefire on Thursday, putting an end to armed hostilities between government troops and MILF forces.

The ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF came two days after a firefight ensued between forces of the 101st Infantry Brigade and members of the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces’ 114 Base Command on November 8.

The agreement, which was signed around 4 PM today, was facilitated by the GPH and MILF’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), and the Non-Violent Peace Force (NVFP).

The GPH CCCH and AHJAG teams were led by Presidential Assistant David Diciano, head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process’ (OPAPRU) Bangsamoro Transformation Program.

Diciano, who arrived in Basilan on Wednesday, met with members of MILF CCCH and AHJAG team, commanders of Western Mindanao Command, Joint Task Force Basilan, 101st Infantry Brigade 18 Infantry Brigade and the NVFP to assess the situation and broker the ceasefire.

“We are happy to announce that a ceasefire agreement has been signed by the GPH and MILF, which brings to an end the armed encounter between government troops and MILF forces,” he said.

“We would like to thank the MILF CCCH and AHJAG for meeting with us and helping find ways on how we could immediately de-escalate the situation, and finally put an end to the armed conflict,” Diciano added.

 

The ceasefire agreement contains the following consensus points:

  • To immediately implement ceasefire between the engaged parties. This will be done by sending the representatives of the MILF CCCH, MILF AHJAG, and Non-violent Peace force to relay the agreement regarding the immediate implementation of the ceasefire to the 114 Base Command, BIAF-MILF while the Commander, Joint Task Force Basilan/101st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army will direct the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines] troops on the ground to do the same;
  • To immediately implement the pull-out of the reinforcements of the BIAF-MILF who are not residents of the said barangay;
  • To allow the return of the group of Commander Huram Malangka of [the] 114BC, BIAF-MILF who are residents of Brgy. Ulitan and their firearms should be kept within their respective houses as they wait for their decommissioning. BIAF-MILF residents of Brgy. Ulitan should be properly identified and registered;
  • To establish a composite detachment which shall be composed of AFP, PNP and BIAF-MILF who will jointly cooperate to address the lawless elements and help in the maintenance of peace and order in the said barangay; and,
  • Issues and concerns pertaining to the BIAF-MILF in the municipality of Ungkaya Pukan should be immediately reported to the GPH-MILF CCCH and AHJAG for immediate resolution.

 

The ceasefire agreement was signed by BGen. Eduardo Gubat, chairperson, GPH-CCCH; Col. Frederick Sales, Team 3 leader, GPH-AHJAG; Ltc. Cyril Santander, commanding officer, 18IB; BGen. Domingo Gobway, commander, JTF-Basilan/101st IB; and BGen. Antonio Rojas, acting commander, WestMinCom.

The signatories for the MILF side Butch Malang, chair, MILF-CCCH; Anwar Alamada, chair, MILF-AHJAG; Hadji Ahaddin, support staff, MILF-CCCH; and Malik Caril, officer-in-charge, BIAF-MILF/member MILF-CCCH.

Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. lauded the signing of the agreement, as he underscored that “this ceasefire demonstrates the desire of both parties to put an end to the armed conflict.”

“The ceasefire is a testament that the GPH and MILF’s peace mechanisms, the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, are effective in de-escalating situations of conflict and are working,” Galvez said.

The peace adviser said he is confident that the ceasefire agreement will hold, saying, “We are also hopeful that armed clashes such as these will not happen again so as not to undermine the major gains we have achieved under the Bangsamoro peace process.”

Galvez thanked the AFP for “doing its best to contain the conflict” and “preventing the loss of lives,” as he also commended Basilan’s local government officials headed by Governor Jim Hataman Salliman and Ungkaya Pusan Mayor Jomar Maturan for leading the call for an immediate ceasefire between the parties.”

“We are also thankful to the MILF Peace Implementing Panel headed by Chairman Mohagher Iqbal for calling on both sides to de-escalate the situation, and most importantly, ensure the well-being of residents,” he added.

“The signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) ended decades of armed hostilities between the GPH and MILF, and created an environment where a just a long-lasting peace can take root and flourish,” Galvez said.

“Under the Marcos Administration’s banner of unity, let us all work together to make this vision a reality. Let us heed the lessons of the past and apply them, as we continue to move forward and sustain the dividends of the Bangsamoro peace process,” he stressed. ###