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• EDD K. USMAN | X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News

MANILA, August 10, 2025 (SDN) — Gluing the Philippine Government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), a product of 17 years of hard peace negotiations. Is the glue starting to wear off?

As the implementation of the CAB continues through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), much have already been accomplished and done, including the decommissioning of 26,145 MILF combatants and 4,625 of their weapons in the first three stages of the process.

Next in the decommissioning process is the fourth and final stage involving 14,000 combatants and their 2,450 firearms. But it seems there’s a snag.

Read it on SDN – SciTech & Digital News here: MILF: Decommissioning of 14,000 Combatants, 2,450 Weapons to Come Only after Compliance of GPH with Normalization Tracks

On July 19, at their Administrative Hub in Camp Darapanan, Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Sur, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the MILF Centra Committee (CC) convened their Regular Meeting and discussed important matters that hinted of a brewing tension in the Bangsamoro peace process between long partners GPH and MILF.

After the meeting they issued a two-page Resolution signed by MILF CC Chair Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim and Muhammad Ameen, secretary. The document raised many points.

While the MILF CC acknowledged that many have been complied with and implemented by GPH, there seems much to be desired in as far as compliance is concerned.

The resolution mentioned other tracks which are equally important, such as policing, redeployment of troops and units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), disbandment of private armed groups (PAGs), socio-economic development, detection and clearance of unexploded ordnances, transitional justice and reconciliation, and the confidence building measures of camp transformation, and amnesty, pardon and other available processes to persons charged with or convicted of crimes connected to the armed conflict in Mindanao.

Bangsamoro peace process at a significant crossroads

In short, the highest policy-making body of the former armed revolutionary group, “resolved that the decommissioning of the remaining 14,000 MILF combatants and 2,450 weapons shall commence only upon the substantial compliance by the GPH in the other tracks of normalization, including the provision of socio-economic package as agree upon by the GPH and MILF Peace Implementing Panels to the 26,145 combatants (those under the 1st 3 phases).”

After hearing of the MILF CC decision, the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), through President Assistant David B. Diciano, head of the agency’s Bangsamoro Transition Office (BTO), issued a rejoined disagreeing with the claims of the MILF.

Read it on SDN – SciTech & Digital News: OPAPRU Disagrees with MILF CC Claim on GPH Not Able to Deliver Substantial Socioeconomic Commitments, Regrets Deferred 4th Phase of Decommissioning

In the OPAPRU’s around 2,000 words rejoinder, Diciano laid down many points concerning GPH compliance with the CAB.

Thus, clearly as far as GPH and MILF are concerned, there appears to be a disconnect between the two parties in the implementation of the CAB which they signed on March 27, 2024, that stopped the internecine conflict that pitted Filipinos against Filipinos.

Datu Lowell Macabangen who gives his takes now and then on the affairs of the Bangsamoro said the MILF CC resolution “reveals not only a policy deadlock but also a troubling lack of transparency in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), especially its Annex on Normalization.”

The convenors of the Friends of Peace (FOP) are listening to the issues besetting the historic CAB’s implementation, prompting them to call for a second iteration of “Titayan 2” (Bridge 2) with a theme revolving around Bridging to Sustain Peace in the Bangsamoro.

Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Cotabato, has noted the Bangsamoro peace process as being at a significant crossroads a few months before the October 13, 2025, holding of the first BARMM parliamentary elections.

“The successful conduct of the elections will end the Bangsamoro transition and should resolve issues of the BARMM leadership legitimacy. However, there are questions on the implications of the elections and of current realities on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the possibility of an Exit Agreement,” the eminent Catholic leader, widely respect even among Muslims, noted.

He recalled that just over nine years ago in 2016 the FOP comprised “of a group of eminent individuals from the religious, academe, civil society and legal profession that advocates for peace in the Bangsamoro,” conducted the first iteration of Titayan symposium and workshop with the theme Bridging Peace: Inclusive Political Transition in the Bangsamoro which followed the Mamasapano debacle. Titayan is Maguindanaon for “bridge” and is close to the taytayan, a Cebuano term.

Foremost in the minds of the FOP convenors as gleaned from Cardinal Quevedo’s statements is the primacy of dialogue, civil society’s conviction, in resolving the challenges to the Bangsamoro peace process.

“The current critical moment of transition is definitely one that requires more bridging, reflection and engagement of broad civil society and multi-stakeholders for sustainable peace,” he pointed out.

“Therefore, the Friends of Peace and key partner organizations and networks will once again convene civil society organizations (CSOs) and peace networks in a gathering dubbed Titayan 2 and guided by the theme “Bridging to Sustain Peace in the Bangsamoro.”

Organizers of the grand event expects to gather 100 peacebuilders on August 18-20 at the Acacia Hotel in Davao City, Davao Region.

Titayan 2’s objectives are cited below, as enumerated by FOP, such as:

• 1) Take stock of the Bangsamoro peace process status and scenarios, including its current and emerging complexities;
• 2) Dialogue on issues and concerns that are impacting on trust and solidarity among the parties and critical stakeholders; and
• 3) Revisit and enhance existing multi-level processes and platforms for wider and more sustained civil society participation in the peace process

Expected speakers are Cardinal Quevedo, Prof. Rufa Caguco-Guiam, GPH Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) Chair Cesar Yano ((presidential assistant, MILF PIP Chair Mohagher M. Iqbal, BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua, representatives of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), Principles for Peace Bangsamoro Accompaniment, Catholic Relief Services, Strengthening Initiatives re-Defining Actions of Women (SINDAW), Atty. Ona Caritos, LENTE, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Director for BARMM Atty. Rey Sumalipao, and others.

The convenors of FOP, aside from Cardinal Quevedo, are Bae Liza Saway, Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus (MPC); Guaimel Alim, CBCS; Gus Miclat, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID); Mags Z. Maglana, Konsensya Dabaw; Karen N. Tanada, GZO Peace Institute; and Carol Arguillas, MindaNews.

For sure stakeholders of peace want to see a resolution of all issues affecting the CAB’s implementation. (√)

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