PASIG CITY, 10 February 2024 — In a demonstration of unwavering trust and solidarity to the Bangsamoro peace process, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panels released on Saturday a joint statement describing as “baseless” the accusations that there is alleged corruption involved in the decommissioning process of former MILF combatants.

The joint statement was issued following the GPH-MILF’s first panel meeting this year, both parties ensured “the integrity of the peace process.”

“Contrary to baseless allegations on corruption, especially in the decommissioning, the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels assured the public that proper mechanisms and procedures are in place to guarantee accountability, and trust and confidence in the process,” the statement read.

The statement was signed by GPH Panel Chair Cesar B. Yano and MILF Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal during their 34th panel meeting.

“Informed by lessons of the past, best practices, and internationally accepted norms on processing combatants and weapons, the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) undertakes stringent verification and validation, among other established safeguards, before MILF combatants and weapons undergo decommissioning,” the parties said.

The IDB oversees the decommissioning process, ensuring that it is carried out efficiently and with utmost impartiality and integrity. The body was created by the GPH and MILF negotiating panels as part of the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The body is composed of representatives from the governments of Turkey, Norway, Kingdom of Brunei, as well as local experts nominated by the GPH and MILF peace panels.

Funds all accounted for

According to the statement, the parties guarantee full transparency in the implementation of programs under the Normalization Track of the CAB, which are both nationally-funded and donor-assisted, and more importantly, “are adequately accounted for by proper documentation and in compliance with rigorous monitoring processes to ensure transparency.”

“The Parties assure the esteemed members of the Philippine Congress and the general public that the implementation of various programs under normalization are conducted with utmost truthfulness,” the parties emphasized in the joint statement.

The GPH and MILF panels also agreed on the decision points made in the implementation of the Socioeconomic Development Program, which is under the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB is the landmark peace agreement signed by the GPH and MILF on March 27, 2014 that embodies the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

One of the important agreements reached during the meeting is the adoption by the GPH and MILF Implementing Panels of the principles which shall govern the implementation of the socioeconomic development program for the decommissioned combatants (DCs) and the six (6) previously-acknowledged MILF camps.

Socioeconomic programs are community-based, and have been designed to reinforce cohesion and strengthen solidarity among the people.

Through the Socioeconomic Development Program, decommissioned MILF combatants, their families, and communities shall be provided with social protection, capacity development, livelihood & employment, and infrastructure projects.

Other key decision points made by the GPH and MILF panels include the deferment of the “discussion for the revitalization of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), following the request of the national government to conduct further due diligence and consultation with its principals.”

The GPH and MILF panels likewise affirmed that the verification of membership of MILF applicants for amnesty, “is a crucial step to ensure the sanctity of the application process.

As agreed in the joint statement, “the MILF shall submit to the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) the names of those authorized to issue the certification of membership; institute a process of validation for the authenticity of said certification; and device a system to identify those who are no longer active members of the MILF.”

Both parties have expressed their gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., “for his unwavering support to the implementation of the peace agreement towards a just and lasting peace and inclusive development in the Bangsamoro.”

The Parties likewise thanked Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr, BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, national government agencies, and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority for their “continuing commitment to the CAB.”

The GPH-MILF Implementing Peace Panels, “re-affirm their resolve for completion Of the deliverables under the peace agreement through close collaboration, open dialogue, and a problem-solving approach.”

Open mindedness, key to resolving issues

In his message during the meeting, Iqbal underscored the open mindedness of both panels, saying that, “the very effective way of settling issues is that a good negotiation team, in order to produce results, has to understand or put themselves into the shoes of the other side.”

“The current panels of the government and the MILF have been engaged in an honest to goodness discussion by looking at the other perspectives and this is very important,” he added.

Iqbal expressed the MILF’s appreciation for the recent conduct of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) meeting last February 8, saying, “What happened the other day is a milestone by itself. No less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines was there, and that was very monumental.”

He said the attendance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to the IGRB meeting “is very important, very symbolic.”

“Symbolism is very powerful. It signals that the President is not only interested in the political track but also in the implementation [of] what is provided for the CAB,” Iqbal said, as he thanked the GPH panel for “the mutual trust and confidence that has been the guiding spirit in the discussion of various issues.”

Contribution to Normalization

For his part, Yano said that the GPH looks forward to another productive year in the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace process.

Yan also recognized the efforts of the MILF implementing panel members in ensuring that the peace process continues to move forward and its gains sustained and built upon.

In particular, Yano extended his gratitude to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for allocating Php 400 million as its contribution in the implementation of the Normalization Program “which was possible through the support of our ministers here.”

He thanked Iqbal for sponsoring the Bangsamoro Parliament Proposed Resolution No. 457, which pushed for the creation of the National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).

“I would like to express gratitude for Minister Iqbal for sponsoring the resolution pertaining to the national TJR. The OPAPRU (Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity) will fully support this resolution,” Yano said..

The TJR is among the four main aspects of the Normalization Program, along with security, socioeconomic, and confidence-building measures.

Peace implementing panels composition

Other members of the GPH Implementing Panel include DSWD Usec. Alan A. Tanjusay, DILG Undersecretary Alfredo F. Bayan, DA Undersecretary Zamzamin L. Ampatuan, and OPAPRU Presidential Assistants David B. Diciano and Wilben M. Mayor.

On the other hand, the other members of the MILF Implementing Panel members include Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Anna Tarhata S. Basman, MSSD Min. Raissa H. Jajurie, MP Ali O. Salik, and MP Eddie M. Alih.

The GPH Implementing Panel Secretariat is headed by OPAPRU Dir. Farrah Grace V. Naparan, while the MILF Implementing Panel Secretariat is led by Bangsamoro Director General Engr. Mohajirin Ali. ###