MILF to members: Don’t carry firearms and wear military uniforms in public places

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 13): MILF to members: Don’t carry firearms and wear military uniforms in public places

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has issued an order dissuading its field members to carry firearms and use military fatigue uniforms in public places. Sammy Almanzur, MILF chief of staff, said the directive came in the heels of reports that MILF members were often seen roaming around Shariff Aguak, the capital town of Maguindanao province, and nearby Mamasapano town with firearms and full military uniform with conforming MILF patches and insignia. “Let the MILF members not misinterpret that the recent signing of the Bangsamoro framework agreement between the government and MILF also allows them to carry firearms in public,” Alamanzur said.

The MILF leader said wearing of uniforms by MILF members are only allowed inside the perimeters of their main enclave Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; and during special events arranged by their organization and the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP). “Seeing MILF members in full uniform with firearms in public is not a healthy sign for the ongoing peace process,” he stressed.

Last Oct. 15, government and MILF peace brokers inked in Malacañang the Framework of Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which will pave the way for the establishment of the new autonomous political entity, the Bangsamoro, to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The agreement signing was witnessed by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, MILF chieftain Al Haj Murad and other dignitaries. The Malaysian government has been helping broker peace meetings between GPH and MILF representatives in its capital city of Kuala Lumpur for over a decade now.

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