MILF disarmament a challenge, says AFP chief

From the Philippine Star (Oct 24): MILF disarmament a challenge, says AFP chief

The Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa said the disarmament on the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) poses a tough challenge with the implementation of the peace accord.  Dellosa told newsmen here during his visit that part of the provision in the GPH-MILF framework agreement is the normalization which deals with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the rebels where the AFP plays a big part. Dellosa said the disarmament will include the MILF fighters, other armed elements and even the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). But Dellosa was not sure as to how they are going to go about the disarmament even as similar provisions of the 1996 MNLF final agreement turned out not successful since many of MNLF members still bear firearms in many areas in Mindanao. Dellosa, however, said the issue of normalization has been brought to the discussion during a meeting on Tuesday with the representatives of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and AFP. He said there has been no step yet being taken as far as measures and implementing rules in the normalization is concerned. Dellosa said there were proposals for the normalization and integration of the MILF but it is not yet on the final stage.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=200&articleId=862928