The chief peace negotiators of both the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Thursday announced that the MILF is scheduled to undergo next week the first phase of the decommissioning of its weapons and its combatants.
In a press briefing, GPH peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that the decommissioning process is scheduled to begin on June 16, Tuesday.
Ferrer was with MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal when they made the announcement at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
Ferrer said no less than President Benigno Aquino III will be the guest of honor when the historic event takes place in Sultan Kudarat.
“Phase 1 of the process will begin with the ceremonial turnover of 55 high-powered and 20 crew-serve weapons, and the decommissioning of 145 members of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,” Ferrer said.
Crew-serve weapons, she said, refer to weapon systems that require more than one individual for it to function at optimum efficiency, usually needing one person to load and another person to fire, such as medium and heavy machine guns.
“The President himself will be the guest of honor during the event and we are inviting our esteemed lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate to join us and witness the commitment of both Parties to put an end to the armed conflict,” the GPH chief negotiator said.
MANILA BULLETIN
