MILF forces to remain despite passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law -- senior MILF official

From the Philippine News Agency (May 6): MILF forces to remain despite passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law -- senior MILF official

The Bangsamoro Armed Forces, the military arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), will continue to exist even if Congress passes the Bangsamoro Basic Law, a senior MILF official said.

Second Vice Chairman Ustadz Ali ‘Solaiman, of the MILF Central Committee, said that once Congress passes the BBL, the MILF armed component and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will adopt a “status of mutual respect.”

Under the status of mutual respect, the MILF will join forces with the AFP in running after criminals within the confined Bansamoro territory.

Solaiman said that the AFP and the MILF will, at all times, coordinate with each other in the execution of military operations within the Bangsamoro homeland.

At the moment, the MILF armed forces are on standby after the government negotiating panel and the MILF signed the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (BFA) in October last year.

He said that the signing of the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law on April 20, 2014 signaled the start of the transition period as embodied in the annexes of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

The predominantly Moslem community in Mindanao is pushing for Congress to pass the BBL to pave the way for the implementation of the BFA annexes that focus on transition government, wealth sharing, and security issues, Solaiman said.

The elusive Solaiman, who spoke only in native Maranao dialect throughout the interview, holds office in Camp Bushra, the second largest MILF camp based in Lanao Del Sur. The the other MILF camp is headed by First Vice Chairman Mohagher Iqbal in the province of Maguindanao.

Dr. Bashary Latiph, a medical practitioner and leader of the Ranaw Confederation for Peace, acted as interpreter throughout the interview.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=640966