The first phase of the decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) weapons and forces will kick off today despite the stalled passage of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The process aims to put the arms and forces of the MILF beyond use as agreed upon by the parties under the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
In the first phase of the unprecedented decommissioning program, the MILF will turn over 75 weapons to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), a number which two senators said is not even 10 percent of the firearms owned by the rebel group and is not enough reason to hasten approval of the draft BBL.
Aside from the surrender of firearms, 145 Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) combatants have volunteered to return to the fold of the law in a ceremony to be held in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. In exchange of returning to civilian life, these veterans of the all-out war declared by then President Joseph Estrada in 2000 will be given cash aid and other socio economic benefits by the government.
President Aquino and MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim are expected to attend the ceremonial turnover at the old provincial capitol in Maguindanao.
The turnover ceremonies will likewise be attended by MILF Chair Murad Ebrahim, Offive Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary of Teresita Quintos Deles, members of both peace panels and other stakeholders.
MANILA BULLETIN
