The Protocol on the Implementation of Decommissioning of Arms and Combatants will not work with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since most of its commanders reject the proposal, former MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu disclosed on Monday.
During the Tapatan media forum at Aristocrat Restaurant in Manila, Kabalu said that although the decommissioning process is a good theoretical step in the peace process, based on the present situation on the ground it will not work.
"It is a good development, but most commanders on the ground have pronounced they will not surrender their arms. This is going to be a big hiccup for the formula on decommissioning, although it will certainly do a lot and contribute to the peace process," Kabalu said.
Kabalu said that MILF commanders will not surrender their firearms since there are politicians who also own guns and keep private armies, and they have not been disarmed.
The Protocol was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between the government peace panel and MILF last week.
Meanwhile, Kabalu remarked that the call to return the guns, gear and other personal effects of the so-called PNP-SAF #Fallen44 will also not materialize since most commanders on the ground do not fall under the "total control" of the top MILF leadership: "Many do not always heed the orders."
Kabalu said that the MILF leaders are very careful in imposing orders on their commanders because of the possibility that they will veer away from their mother chain of command and transfer allegiance to the supposedly breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
"In my own observation, MILF leaders are, to a certain extent, wary about their fighters," he added.
Meanwhile, Kabalu suggested that the respective peace panels can reconstruct or overhaul the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in order to align with the Constitution and consider all stakeholders in the process, including other groups that could potentially spell many things leading to a meaningful peace in Mindanao."
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/104243/arms-combatants-decommissioning-formula-wont-work-with-milf---kabalu
Kabalu used to be the main MILF spokesperson until he began to run off at the mouth and make statements that weren't approved of by senior MILF leaders. He was removed and demoted to lesser position. My guess is that his statements here will probably cause him run to afoul of the MILF Central Committee yet again.
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