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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider MILF temporarily suspends peace engagements with gov't

MILF temporarily suspends peace engagements with gov't

Published Mar 17, 2026 01:45 pm
EBRAHIM and Iqbal. (MILF)
EBRAHIM and Iqbal. (MILF)
DAVAO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has temporarily suspended all engagements related to the implementation of the peace agreement following the resignation of the government peace panel chief.
In a statement, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim urged the government to designate a duly mandated peace panel chairman, adding that the implementation of the peace agreement is supposed to be a “dance that was meant for two.”
Ebrahim said the reported resignation of government peace panel chief Cesar Yano left a gaping hole in the implementation of the peace agreement at this very crucial stage in the transition period.
“The importance of the MILF peace implementing panel's government counterpart cannot be countenanced. Hence, in the exercise of prudence, the MILF deems it appropriate to declare a temporary pause in several aspects of engagement under the peace implementation mechanisms until a full- fledged chairman of the GPH peace implementing panel is appointed,” he said.
With the resignation of Yano, the MILF peace implementing panel cannot negotiate and engage with a headless counterpart, the MILF chairman added.
Peace implementation mechanisms may not be able to proceed as they were designed to function through officially mandated representatives of both parties, said Ebrahim.
The MILF peace panel has been chaired by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal since 2003.
“In the absence of a formally designated chair of the GPH peace implementing panel, the MILF finds itself unable to proceed with substantive engagements that require formal commitments and authoritative decisions,” Ebrahim said.
The MILF assured that the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group shall continue to function and address any infraction of tranquility on the ground.
Ebrahim added that this move is for the protection of the fragile peace and security already achieved.
“On the side of the MILF peace mechanisms led by the MILF peace implementing panel, it shall continue to engage local, national, and international friends of the peace process on matters not requiring jointness, mutuality, and bilateralism with those mechanisms from the GPH,” he said.
The MILF is hoping that the government will designate a new peace panel chief to enable the shared work of completing the implementation of the CAB to proceed with clarity, certainty, and renewed momentum.
“Such appointment will help restore the normal functioning of the established mechanisms and enable the parties to address pending matters in a timely and constructive manner,” Ebrahim said.
The peace deal encountered another stumbling block as the government and the MILF commemorate the 12th year of signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on March 17.
Last year, the MILF unilaterally suspended the decommissioning of the remaining 14,000 combatants until the government substantially complies with the provisions of the Annex on Normalization in the peace agreement the two parties signed in 2014.
The MILF barred its officials and commanders from attending activities related to decommissioning.
The first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections was moved multiple times, prompting some peace monitors to issue a warning that the peace deal is on the brink of collapse due to unresolved issues.

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