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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Iqbal defends MILF decommissioning suspension

Iqbal defends MILF decommissioning suspension

Published Sep 4, 2025 01:26 pm
DAVAO CITY – Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal defended the suspension of the decommissioning process of their combatants and weapons, saying that the move was to preserve the gains of the peace process.
IQBAL
IQBAL
In a statement, Iqbal said that even as the MILF temporarily suspended the decommissioning process, the group remains committed to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).
“It is a serious moral responsibility and is a sin before Allah if we do not comply with a solemn agreement,” he said.
The MILF Central Committee suspended the decommissioning process last July.
The MILF insisted that the suspension will take effect until there is “substantial compliance by the (Philippine government) in the other tracks of normalization, including the provision of socio-economic package as agreed upon by the GPH and MILF Peace Implementing Panels to the 26,145 (decommissioned) combatants.”
Decommissioning of the MILF weapons and combatants is part of the normalization process.
The other seven elements or deliverables are constitution of the joint normalization mechanisms, confidence-building measures, socioeconomic interventions, transitional justice and reconciliation (TJR), disbandment of private armed groups, policing, and redeployment of government troops.
Iqbal, who also heads the Bangsamoro region's education ministry, pointed out that all of the deliverables must proceed parallel and commensurate with each other.
"Truth is that the decommissioning is way ahead while the other elements are trailing badly, especially the disbandment of private armed groups, socioeconomic, and TJR."
He added that the suspension could also allow both the government and the MILF to sort out things in their correct appreciation and proper perspective. “After all, to stress again, decommissioning is not an isolated issue: It is just one element of the normalization process.”
The suspension of the decommissioning process has raised serious concern among peace advocates who are closely monitoring the developments in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Among the groups are Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA) and the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) which expressed this turn of events sinks any hope of a peaceful parliamentary election in October.
According to them, the MILF and its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), are gearing up for the first parliamentary elections in October without having accomplished full decommissioning.
“Promises and assurances that guns will not be used to intimidate and harass opponents are dubious and unreliable,” they added.
With the impasse on the decommissioning process, CCAA and IAG warned that the accompanying development programs in the BARMM are facing the risk of failure.
Last week, the Third-Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) issued a warning regarding the future of the Bangsamoro peace process, saying that the suspension of the decommissioning process have negatively affected the implementation of the peace agreement.
“Rebuilding trust between the parties is now essential to keep the peace process on track. Commitment to shared objectives which has been built over years must be continually nurtured, not just in words but in a spirit of effective cooperation and partnership,” said TPMT, which is composed of local and international representatives from various sectors.
The group is chaired by former European Union diplomat Heino Marius of Brussels and includes Mindanao-based Rahib Kudto of the United Youth for Peace and Development, Huseyin Oruç of Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Manila-based Karen Tañada of the Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, and Sam Chittick of The Asia Foundation.
It added that the focus must now be directed at the implementation of all elements of the normalization track.
TMPT urged both parties to engage in frank and open discussions on resolving differences in interpretations or disagreements over how to bring the peace process to a successful conclusion in the spirit of partnership.

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