Government and MILF Commit to Truce Until 2017
Manila, , 4 Jumadil Awal 1437/13 February 2016 (MINA) – Despite the failure of Congress to pass the Bangsamoro law, a ceasefire between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will hold for at least another year.
The two sides doused fears of renewed violence as they agreed to extend the life of international peace monitors until March 2017.
This was announced at the first meeting of the two panels since Congress adjourned without passing the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Philstar.
In a joint statement on Friday, government negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and her MILF counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal, expressed disappointment over Congress’ failure to pass the BBL, which is required under a comprehensive peace accord forged in 2014.
The joint statement was issued after two days of talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which brokered the peace deal.
Despite the setback, the government and the 11,000-strong MILF agreed to extend until March 2017 the mission of Malaysia-led ceasefire monitors.
They also kept in place a joint group that allows the MILF to help government troops capture terrorists and outlaws.
It is hoped that both measures would prevent any outbreak of violence stemming from rebel frustration with the delay in the peace process.
Iqbal has warned that the setback has caused deep anxiety among guerrillas, and that the uncertainty could be exploited by radicals opposed to the peace deal.
The House of Representatives and the Senate ended the last regular session of their term early this month without passing the bill, which aims to establish a more powerful and potentially larger autonomous region for minority Muslims.
The bill was stalled by indignation over the killing early last year of 44 police commandos in fighting that involved some of the guerrillas from the MILF.
The two negotiating panels also reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process and to preserve the gains of more than 17 years of negotiations.
“The parties recognize that the non-passage of the BBL has adversely affected the timeline of establishing the Bangsamoro entity,” read the statement.
Ferrer and Iqbal vowed to exert more effort to promote the Bangsamoro Bill.
“Towards this end, the parties shall exert further efforts to promote understanding and greater acceptability of the proposed basic law,” they said.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to stay the course of peace and sustain the existing peace infrastructure.
“This infrastructure is fundamental in keeping the peace on the ground and supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),” read the statement.
“It is important that it remains functional for the next administration to carry forward the implementation of the agreements.”
The government and MILF thanked the International Monitoring Team for the effective monitoring of the implementation of cessation of hostilities between the government and MILF forces.
Malacanang and military response
At Malacañang, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. urged the next administration to continue the peace agreement.
“The joint agreement reflects the shared commitment of both parties to the attainment of the Bangsamoro’s aspirations on long-term peace and progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the Armed Forces is ready to defend the peace process in Mindanao against any lawless group out to take advantage of the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Bill, following renewed hostilities in Maguindanao between government forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Col. Noel Detoyato, Armed Forces public affairs chief, said the Bangsamoro Bill is but part of the long and tedious Mindanao peace process. (T/R07/R03)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
