Biazon doubts MILF rebels’ willingness to give up firearms

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 1): Biazon doubts MILF rebels’ willingness to give up firearms

An administration lawmaker yesterday expressed serious doubts on whether the Moro Islamic Liberation Front will indeed turn over their firearms to the government at the end of the year in the light of existing clan wars among Muslims.

According to Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, the scheduled turnover of the firearms by the MILF would be an acid test for the group that has forged a peace agreement with the Philippine government.

Biazon, a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, noted that previous agreements with another Muslim group (the Moro National Liberation Front) failed to ensure the turnover of the firearms.

“In the past, the MNLF forces were integrated to our security forces. But after the agreement, there were attacks (from the MNLF) such as the 2001 Cabatangan (Zamboanga) and the Zamboanga City siege last year. We have to adapt a disarmament program that is foolproof, and we have to factor in rido and the private armies,” Biazon said during the weekly media forum in the House of Representatives’ Ugnayan sa Batasan.

The MNLF headed by Nur Misuari entered into peace agreement with the government in 1996. The agreement included disarmament and the integration of some 6,000 MNLF forces in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Proof of the insincerity in turning over firearms was the September 2013 Zamboanga City siege.

“I am not saying that it (complete disarmament) is impossible, but it will be difficult. There’s no quick fix. There are issues of culture, economy and law enforcement. The total disarmament is dependent on the stance of the MILF and the mainstream Muslim politicians,” Biazon said.

Biazon, however, agreed that the decommissioning of MILF combatants need not be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Bangasamoro Basic law which would establish the Bangsamoro Region by next year.

The decommissioning is provided for under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and the MILF.

“We have to give the government and the MILF the flexibility to implement the disarmament process. It depends on the existing situations on the ground, and a lot of other things. You cannot define that by law,” Biazon said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/biazon-doubts-milf-rebels-willingness-to-give-up-firearms