GPH and MILF Joint Peace Implementing Panels discuss various matters, including the return of international ceasefire monitors
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COTABATO CITY (SDN) — It appears the return of the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) has become a necessity after the fighting on the island of Basilan.
The province is one of the component territories of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), established in January 2019 by the 2018 Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher M. Iqbal raised the urgency of having the IMT return to Southern Philippines and reprised their vital and independent role in defusing and de-escalating tensions and, even stopping, fighting between military contingent and MILF fighters.
He said there’s a need to “confront recent ceasefire violations and security concerns with the seriousness that they demand.”
Iqbal, education minister of the unique Bangsamoro parliamentary government, made this statement and others on January 31 in Davao City during the 36th Meeting of the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels.
In his speech at the GPH-MILF meeting, he referenced the fighting on January 22 in Sumisip, Basilan, between elements of the 32nd Infantry Battalion and members of the MILF. Apparently, as news reports said, the soldiers were escorting staff of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng, Sumisip when they were reportedly ambushed by “lawless” individuals backed by MILF members.
Four people, two soldiers and two fighters were killed in the clash with 12 wounded.
“It is imperative also that our dispute resolution and accountability mechanisms remain robust and fully functional to prevent disruptions and uphold the integrity of our agreements.”
The MILF and BARMM official described the meeting in the southern city as continuance of the two parties’ share commitment to advancing the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangnsamoro’s (CAB) implementation.
It was on March 27, nearly 11 years ago, when the government and the MILF signed the CAB which ended the Mindanao war. The two peace partners negotiated for 17 years, punctuated by major and minor shooting wars. Since then, Mindanao has been enjoying a generally peaceful and largely free of armed fighting between the two parties, save for the clash on the island of Basilan.
Iqbal also emphasized the need to recognize the urgency of addressing key concerns in connection with amnesty, small arms and light weapons (SALW), including the socio-economic aspect of the decommissioning process of former MILF combatants and their weapons which had already started a few years ago.
He called for the aligning of agreed funding arrangements with commitments already established.
“Given the distinct purpose of the BARMM block grant in supporting regional development and essential services, we trust that the necessary resources for decommissioning will be appropriately provided by the national government. A well-coordinated and adequately resourced transition remains key to fulfilling our shared commitments,” said Iqbal.
In relation with the panels’ meeting, the GPH and the MILF released a Joint Statement signed by GPH Peace Implementing Panel Chairman Cesar B. Yano and Iqbal as reported by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Their statement underscored various points related to the Bangsamoro peace process, such as:
1. Adoption of the Monitoring and Evaluation System for Normalization of the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) based on the Peace Accords Matrix – Mindanao (PAM-M), which will supplement but not supplant the monitoring mandate of the Third-Party Monitoring Team (TPMT), with the understanding that the system developed will be completely turned over to the JNC not later than December 2025;
2. Approval of the structure, composition, and process flow for the conduct of the Joint Security Assessment (JSA) relative to the redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);
3. Approval of the Framework for the Transition Plan for the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs) as part of their phasing out as the last MILF members to be decommissioned;
4. Approval of the GPH-MILF Transitional Justice and Reconciliation (TJR) Roadmap which laid out two parallel tracks based on the recommendations indicated in the report of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC);
5. Discussion on the status of implementation for the reduction and management of small arms and light weapons (SALW) per the Annex on Normalization, where the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration, and Recovery for Advancing Human Security in BARMM (ASPIRE) Project is recognized as one of the initiatives and implementation modalities under this program with the creation of a joint Technical Working Group (TWG) to formulate a program framework;
6. Reached a consensus on key items relative to the proposed revitalization of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and committed to settle remaining unresolved details to finalize its Terms of Reference (TOR);
7. Discussed recommendations to support the efficient roll-out of amnesty applications of MILF members, including the intensified orientation on the amnesty application process. The issuance of interim safe conduct passes to MILF personalities who are members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and GPH-MILF peace process mechanisms, pending action thereon by the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) and the facilitation of workable measures on the safe passage of MILF applicants for amnesty, were also covered;
8. Discussed the results of the recent meeting of the TWG, composed of representatives from the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), GPH, and MILF with the task to study and recommend processes towards putting decommissioned weapons beyond use;
9. Discussion on the government-initiated Localization of Normalization Implementation (LNI) initiative, with the commitment to, in future meetings, resolve concerns including the role of the peace mechanisms in the implementation of GPH-MILF approved projects; and
10. The Panels have directed the GPH-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) to conduct joint inquiries and investigations, and intensify their joint information campaign to strengthen support to the peace process. This is in light of the ceasefire-related incidents that occurred recently.
The GPH and MILF peace bodies agree to strengthen their coordination to prevent the repeat of the Basilan incident.
At the end of his speech at the meeting, Iqbal encouraged all the members of the joint panels and their peace mechanisms to remained focused on their present tasks, saying that challenges are present, “but peace is a continuous effort — one that demands patience, commitment, and sustained collaboration.” (/)