PASAY CITY – The resumption of the third phase of the decommissioning process of the remaining 1,301 Moro Islamic Liberation Front – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) combatants will commence on August 3, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. announced during the 2023 Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Discussions last Wednesday, July 26.
“Gusto po naming i-announce na this coming August 3, mayroon po tayong 1,301 combatants ma-de-decommission para makumpleto po yung first, second, third phases na 26,000,” Sec. Galvez said, adding that “Sa ngayon sa Normalization [track], nakita natin na mayroon na po tayong na-decommission na more than 24,000 combatants.”
“Next year at sa susunod na taon, may 14,000 or 35% remaining na ide-decommission,” he also disclosed.
He said that the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) is expected to complete the decommissioning process before the first election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2025.
Several government agency heads including Galvez attended the Post-SONA discussions focused on Good Governance, Peace and Security at the Hilton Hotel in Pasay City last Wednesday, July 26 – two days following President Marcos’ SONA.
In his SONA, President Marcos expressed that he is “proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken. It will be self-governing, progressive, and effective.”
“It’s very critical that we build on the peace gains and ensure continuing progress,” Sec. Galvez added during the Post-SONA discussions.
One of the critical steps needed is the process of decommissioning. It is among the key provisions of the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace agreement between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF signed in 2014. This step will serve as an initial key in helping former MILF-BIAF combatants successfully transition to civilian life. Based on the CAB, it is the Independent Decommissioning Body which is composed of international and local experts that oversees the decommissioning process of MILF combatants and weapons so that these are put beyond use.
“The partnership between the government and the MILF enabling the final leg of the Phase 3 of the decommissioning to push through serves as a testament that both sides are sincerely committed to implementing the 9-year old agreement,“ GPH Implementing Panel Chair for the GPH-MILF Peace Accord BGen. Cesar B. Yano (Ret.) said.
A critical part of the Normalization track, the decommissioning process validates and verifies the identities of former combatants.
“As they complete the upcoming third phase this August, the succeeding steps will hopefully allow them to transform from being a combatant into a productive member of civil society,” GPH implementing panel chair Yano said.
During the post-SONA discussions, Galvez also lauded the president’s sincere efforts to further advance the Bangsamoro peace process: “Dalawang buwan after ng kanyang assumption ay nabuo niya po yung napakagandang unified Bangsamoro Transition Authority.”
“Noong kanilang inauguration, sama-sama po ang mga MNLF at MILF na nanumpa po sa ating Presidente. Ang kagandahan po na nakita natin na naunify natin ang buong Bangsamoro kasama na ang ating mga Moro leaders, including royal families ay nagkaroon ng iisang samahan doon sa BTA, Sec. Galvez said.
According to the presidential peace adviser, President Marcos was able to reconcile the differences of the leaders of the MNLF and MILF and be part of the BTA. ###
