Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu has urged the government to hasten the decommissioning process of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants as well as the disbanding of all private armed groups in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to stop the proliferation of loose firearms.

Mangudadatu issued the call following the ambush of Mayor Akmad Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao del Sur last month using a rocket propelled grenade (RPG).

He believes that the decommissioning of MILF combatants, eradication of terrorist groups, and disbandment of PAGs are the keys to resolve the security issues in the region.

While Ampatuan survived the ambush, Mangudadatu said they are wary that the proliferation of high-powered weapons poses a threat not just among government officials but also to the security in the region.

The mayor was onboard a bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser when he was ambushed. Two military escorts were injured.

Three of the suspects were killed in Datu Unsay town, Maguindanao del Sur.

As Sultan Kudarat shares its boundary with Maguindanao del Sur, the governor said that they have beefed up security measures in the province to prevent similar incidents from happening.

Mangudadatu said that they have urged the government to finish the decommissioning process of the MILF combatants in the region.

“It’s been seven years already (since it started) but until now it’s not yet done. The MILF is frustrated, the government people is frustrated, everyone is frustrated because of the proliferation of loose and high-powered firearms,” he said.

The governor assured his constituents that he would ensure that these high-powered firearms would not proliferate in the province.

An alleged MILF commander was said to be behind the ambush.

The MILF denied the allegation. It is publicly known that RPGs are among the high-powered weapons in their arsenal.

“We are making sure that our highways are free from all of those dangers or threats,” he added. “My concern here is in Maguindanao, I hope they will stop holding RPGs. They should be holding pen and paper instead of RPGs. He should have been in school.”

Mangudadatu said that he was saddened by the incident that caught the attention of foreign media outlets. “Dapat meron parin tayong response niyan kung paano natin ayusin ang imahe ng Pilipinas.” (We should have a response on how to repair the image of the Philippines)

The governor said that all armed groups in the BARMM should be disarmed and only government forces should remain as the only armed group in the region.

Thus, he said, the decommissioning process should be completed so that individuals possessing guns would be classified as lawless elements.

“Decommissioning is the answer. The government should just fulfill its obligation as well as the MILF.”

The MILF unilaterally suspended the decommissioning of the remaining 14,000 combatants last July until the government substantially complies with the provisions of the Annex on Normalization in the peace agreement the two parties signed in 2014.

Since the decommissioning process commenced in 2015, a total of 26,145 combatants were decommissioned or 65 percent of the 40,000-strong force.

The MILF Central Committee lamented that of the 26,145 decommissioned members, “not a single one has successfully undergone transition to productive civilian life as other interventions for decommissioning have essentially not been provided.”