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Editor’s Note: The Peace Implementing Panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has met for the time on July 1, 2023, under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The meeting was held in Davao City, an important development towards the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which GPH-MILF signed on March 27, 2014.
They released a Joint Statement after the meeting.
JOINT STATEMENT
The Peace Implementing Panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) successfully concluded today their initial meeting in Davao City – the first under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and since the Peace Implementing Panels have been reconstituted. The MILF Implementing Panel manifested to the PH Implementing Panel the former’s intention to pursue the established norm of launching the newly constituted Panels through a meeting in Kuala Lumpur prior to the conduct of any formal meetings, and the revitalization of the International Monitoring Team (IMT). The GPH implementing Panel committed to convey and elevate both matters to its principal.
Still, the Implementing Panels held initial discussions on specific matters and arrived at some decision points.
First, the Implementing Panels expressed their sympathies to the bereaved families of seven (7) MILF members who were killed during a law enforcement operations in Brgy. Damawato, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur on 18 June 2023. The Implementing Panels sincerely thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., for swiftly directing the Department of Justice (DOJ to conduct investigations on the aforementioned incident. The MILF Implementing Panel reiterated the indispensability of a separate inquiry by an independent body to bolster confidence in the findings.
Second, the Parties also discussed and agreed to further study the proposals for the AFP Redeployment Parameters and Areas for the Joint Security Assessment, Transition Plan for the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs), and the Integrated Framework on the implementation of camps transformation program for the initial 33 barangays of the six (6) previously acknowledged MILF camps.
Third, recognizing the urgency and centrality of the full implementation of the decommissioning program through the delivery of socioeconomic development packages for the combatants, the Implementing Panels agreed to create a socioeconomic study committee to discuss and recommend for the Panels’ approval the components, implementation framework, and funding strategies for the socioeconomic development packages for the decommissioned combatants and camps transformation. The members from the PH are Usec. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan (Chair), Usec. Alan A. Tanjusay, and PA David B. Diciano, and from the MILF are Min. Raissa H. Jajurie (Chair), Min. Aida M. Silongan, and BDG Mohajirin T. Ali.
Finally, despite challenges in the implementation of the peace process, the Parties committed to pursue the efficient delivery of the other components of the peace agreement. The Parties agreed to intensify resource mobilization to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) by engaging with international state and non-state donors who are willing to support the normalization process, subject to appropriate rules and regulations on the acceptance of grants, donation or any form of development assistance. The modalities for this shall be further discussed by the Parties.
The Parties express their deepest appreciation to and continuing confidence in President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for his full support to the Bangsamoro peace process and his commitment to fulfill the implementation of the peace agreements.
The Parties likewise thank OPAPRU Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. and Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, under whose respective leaderships the implementation of the CAB has progressed, as well as the different agencies of the National Government and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for their continuing support to the CAB. The Parties, along with the entire peace mechanisms, re-affirm their commitment to the continued implementation of the CAB and the achievement of just and lasting peace in the Bangsamoro and in the entire country.
Done this 1st of July 2023 in Davao City.
FOR THE GPH:
MR. CESAR B. YANO
Chair, PH Peace Implementing Panel
FOR THE MILF:
MIN. MOHAGHER M. IQBAL
Chair, MILF Peace Implementing Panel
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