A Mindanao lawmaker appealed on Wednesday, Nov. 9, to the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to implement an “immediate ceasefire” to protect vulnerable civilians in Basilan.

Deputy Speaker and Basilan lone Rep. Mujiv Hataman said he was saddened by the firefight that erupted between government troops and MILF members in his province.

A soldier was wounded after he was allegedly shot by an MILF sniper in Barangay Ulitan, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

“Nananawagan tayo ng isang agarang ceasefire sa pagitan ng mga nagtutunggaling puwersa sa aming lalawigan ngayon (We call for an immediate ceasefire between the opposing forces in our province now),” Hataman said.

According to Hataman, the ceasefire will prevent the armed conflict and hostilities that could worsen and endanger the lives of civilians in Basilan.

He questioned why the violent encounter between the military and MILF happened when, in fact, they have an existing peace agreement.

“Buong akala natin ay wala nang giyera sa pagitan ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at MILF dahil may kasunduan na para sa kapayapaan at nariyan na ang Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao o BARMM na pinamumunuan ng MILF (We fully thought there is no longer a war between the AFP and MILF because of the peace agreement and the BARMM is already there, which is headed by the MILF),” Hataman said.

“Pero bakit nagkakaroon pa ng karahasan sa pagitan ng puwersa ng pamahalaan at MILF (But why violence occurred between government forces and the MILF),” he asked.

The House leader challenged both the government and MILF to explain the incident since they have coordination efforts under the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group or AHJAG in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

The AHJAG is the cooperative mechanism between the government and the MILF that responds to criminality and terrorism in areas with MILF presence. This is meant to ensure that law enforcement operations against criminal elements within MILF areas are effectively conducted without jeopardizing the ceasefire between the government and the MILF.

The lawmaker also called for a “review” of the mechanisms for coordination between the government and MILF.

This, Hataman stressed, will strengthen the process to prevent future armed encounters that jeopardize the lives of the people and the peace they have long fought for.