MILF Peace Implementing Panel Chair Mohagher M. Iqbal calls for convening in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, of meeting with GPH to trace present issues affecting the implementation of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)
X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-RsF
DAVAO CITY, August 19, 2025 (SDN) — “Loss of trust and confidence” are words the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) raised here at Titayan 2 that assembled over 200 peace advocates from across the country.
The goal of the August 18 to 20 conversations on peace organized by the Friends of Peace (FOP) and six other civil society organizations (CSOs) is to make a “titayan” or bridge between the MILF and the Philippine Government (GPH) as some developments in the implementation of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) is obviously driving a disconnect in the two parties’ partnership.
Mohagher M. Iqbal, the chair of the Peace Implementing Panel (PIP) of the MILF delivered a speech at the event, emphasizing three key points in relation with the current situation that is giving peace advocates a sense of urgency to resolve issues relative to the Bangsamoro peace process.
In fact, a woman peace advocate told SDN — SciTech & Digital News of her fears that trouble may break out if the differences or misunderstanding is not addressed soon.
“What are we going to do, our people will again suffer?” she says, citing some hawkish in the government security establishment sending a warning.
Iqbal had mentioned about a meeting between the MILF and GPH that was not pushed through.
He said the meeting should be done in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the International Monitoring Team (IMT) can be tackled as well as find out ways to address the current problem in the Bangsamoro peace process.
- 1. The MILF is fully committed to building peace in Mindanao.
- 2. BARMM’s current problem lies in the questionable change of leadership (and the Parliament no longer MILF-led).
- 3. The temporary suspension of the fourth and final phase of the decommissioning process.
For what’s happening presently, Iqbal blamed squarely the OPAPRU under Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. for the change in the Bangsamoro leadership and loss of the MILF majority in the Parliament.
Without elaborating, Yano says something is afoot from the national government
“Let me be candid here. The problem in the BARMM is caused by the imposed regime change in the leadership of the BARMM orchestrated by the OPAPRU…without prior consultation,” he emphasizes.
He minced no words that the national government because of the OPAPRU did not abide by the MILF endorsement for 41 Members of Parliament (MPs) to preserve its majority with 39 government-endorsed.
Now, he pointed, the MILF only has 35 MPs, and the government even removed one of the two Christian representatives in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament.
Having two Christian representatives is in the agreement, he said. “We cannot understand why the other one was removed.”
He was referring to retained MP Susana Anayatin and Atty. Mary Ann Arnando whom President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. did not re-appoint as MP. The Christian representatives in the Parliament were very active, Iqbal pointed out.
_________
Statement from Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.
“The government remains fully committed to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). We view the recent memorandum order from MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim, which instructs his members not to engage in any “unilateral” programs of the government, as an internal matter for their organization.
“To address these apparent differences, we believe an open and sincere dialogue between both sides is the best way forward. We trust that both the government and the MILF are sincere in upholding the CAB and preserving the peace gains achieved so far.
“Some of the activities will be temporarily suspended due to the election ban imposed by the Commission on Elections in preparation for the upcoming first parliamentary elections in the BARMM on October 13. This includes the decommissioning of combatants and firearms, as the gun ban will prevent us from carrying out these operations.
“However, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is very open to discussing with the MILF leadership which programs can be jointly implemented during this period without violating the election ban.
“The Bangsamoro peace process remains robust and dynamic owing to the steadfast commitment of both the government and the MILF to its broader aims.”
_________
_________
OPAPRU Undersecretary Isidro L. Purisima took exemption to blaming the OPAPRU for the problem in the Bangsamoro government.
“It is not fair to blame OPAPRU,” Purisima, defending his office, says. He added that there are other agencies in the ears of the President.
The pointing fingers did not come only from the MILF.
In separate posts on their respective social media page, Atty. Bong Montesa and Datu Lowell Macabangen, who is fast becoming an analyst of Bangsamoro affairs, slammed Galvez and the OPAPRU for what’s happening to the CAB’s implementation, particularly the decommissioning process that has stalled after the MILF Central Committee temporarily suspended the fourth and final phase under the Normalization Track of the CAB.
GPH Peace Implementing Panel Chair Cesar Yano, a former military general, who delivered his speech first, assured that the government is committed to implementing the peace accord with the MILF.
On the other hand, during an open forum, he indicated he understands the MILF stance in suspending the decommissioning process as he also mentioned the group’s Memorandum No. 037 on August 16 signed by MILF Chair Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim.
In the memo, Ebrahim ordered Front commanders, Base commanders and officials of the group’s line agencies to not join OPAPRU’s unilateral decommissioning activities.
Iqbal said what is in the CAB is “joint, bilateral, and mutual” implementation, saying the unilateral acts of the government through OPAPRU is a violation of the peace accord.
Yano, whom Iqbal learned has submitted his “irrevocable resignation” as GPH PIP chair, chimed in.
“Of course, there must be meaning to the memorandum. We really have to revisit because that memorandum means something. There has to be more discussion on the things brought out by the MILF. We cannot totally discount the contents of that memorandum.
“Personally, I can feel that the memorandum is just an expression of many things that the MILF is also clamoring. To be objective about it, we really have to sit down and discuss (the issues),” emphasizes Yano.
The former military general hinted that the government is doing something to address the MILF concerns, but he said, “I cannot talk about the details…the higher leadership is now aware of all these things.”
Yano says further, without elaborating: “And that in the coming days there will be something. There will be discussion, and you can expect all these things, even the other (memorandum) is attended to. The government is not sleeping on this. I can assure that,” as he addresses the Titayan 2 peace forum participants.
MILF official lauds peace advocates for Bangsamoro peace process survival
Iqbal, who wears many hats in the Bangsamoro peace process, stressed the importance of going back to the “basic” to understand the way forward.
He also cited the presence of his counterpart in the GPH, the last and final government chief negotiator, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who is present in the peace conference. It was Coronel-Ferrer who signed both the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the CAB.
“It is very clear in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that there is no unilateral implementation of agreement. It cannot be that only party. It should be two parties. So, the over-riding principle that must be followed by the government and the MILF is that it has to be joint, it has to be bilateral, it has to be mutual,” the MILF PIP chair asserts.
“That is the binding principle in implementing agreement, joint, bilateral, and mutual, and then trust and confidence are needed. If it is joint, bilateral, mutual and transparent, trust increases,” says Iqbal. “If not joint, but unilateral, the result is that trust and confidence are eroded.”
“We don’t question the intention of the government, which may have the best intention in the world. But (the agreement) is not followed, which is the joint, bilateral, and mutual (implementation).”
However, the MILF official described the activities of the national government, particularly the OPAPRU “to be directly undermining the MILF as a government peace partner (by) inviting MILF commanders to Davao or Manila without coordination” as stated in the CAB.
“While your intention maybe good, it smacks of (a classic) divide-and-rule (tactic) and lack of respect to the (MILF) leadership. The Bangsamoro is no stranger to these antics,” Iqbal says. “The main casualty here is trust and confidence.”
He cited time and again the MILF’s compliance with the CAB since day one and this was recently reiterated by Ebrahim, the MILF chair. “The MILF doubts if the President is fully aware of the situation in the BARMM.”
On the other hand, Iqbal thanked and lauded the Friends of Peace led by Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, as well as the rest of the peace advocates for their constancy of support for the peace process.
“The Bangsamoro peace process survived because of individuals like you.” — EDD K. USMAN (√)
_________
The author
EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (@)
_________
Note: International organizations lend a helping hand in the holding of Titayan 2, among them, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), The Asia Foundation (TAP), International Institute for Dialogue (IID), International Crisis Group (ICG).