Gov’t welcomes retrieval of SAF weapons; MILF reaffirms commitment to peace process

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 18): Gov’t welcomes retrieval of SAF weapons; MILF reaffirms commitment to peace process

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles and Government of the Philippines peace panel chair Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on Wednesday welcomed the gesture of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to return the weapons of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) taken from the tragic incident in Mamasapano last January 25, which claimed nearly 70 lives from all sides, including civilians.

“We receive with appreciation a gesture of goodwill we have sought from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Deles said in a simple ceremony held at Camp Brig. Gen. Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, where the MILF presented SAF firearms retrieved through the joint efforts of the GPH and MILF ceasefire mechanisms.

The weapons will then be transported via a C130 plane to Manila, where it will be formally turned over to the PNP.

“We accept this clear proof of the trust and goodwill that has already been built in the Bangsamoro peace process. We accept this clear signal of the willingness and determination of the MILF to sustain our precious gains,” she added.

Ferrer, on the other hand, commended the MILF for deciding to return the firearms as proof of its commitment to the peace process instead of claiming it as spoils of war.

“Sa kabila ng pagyanig ng trahedya ng Mamasapano, bagamat nagkaron ng lamat ang ceasefire, eto pa rin tayo (Despite the tragedy in Mamasapano, despite the breach of our ceasefire, we are still here),” Ferrer said. “Ang pamahalaan at MILF na patuloy na naniniwala sa prosesong pangkapayapaan (Both the government and the MILF continue to believe in the peace process).”

“We assure everybody that the MILF is a partner of peace in Mindanao,” Ferrer’s counterpart and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said.

“We are willing to travel the extra mile so the peace process will proceed,” Iqbal asserted. “Sa kapayapaan po tayo magbe-benefit. Pero sa giyera, lahat tayo talo (It is in peace that we benefit. In war we all lose).”

“Mahalaga na magpatuloy ang prosesong pangkapayapaan (it is important for the peace process to continue),” Ferrer noted.

Sixteen and a half SAF weapons were retrieved, verified, and presented by the MILF in the presence of representatives from both sides.‎

Instrumental in the retrieval of weapons are the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the International Monitoring Team.

The GPH CCCH is headed by BGen. Carlito Galvez with Secretariat head Dir. Carlos Sol. The MILF CCCH is headed by Rashid Ladiasan.

Meanwhile, the IMT team is led by Malaysian head of mission MGen Dato' Abdul Samad Bin HJ Yaakub and joined by IMT member, Norwegian William Hovland.

"We thank the joint CCCH who have again showed us how robust our ceasefire mechanisms are. We also thank our brave and committed partners in the IMT for the important role they have played in installing the ceasefire on that fateful Sunday... to the rescue of the victims and now as the third party witness in the verification of the retrieved weapons that shall be returned to the PNP SAF," she added.

Witnessing the presentation of retrieved weapons were GPH peace panel member Senen Bacani, Joint Normalization Committee co-chair Muhammad Nassif, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman, International Monitoring Team Head of Mission Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang Jr., ‎AFP Western Mindanao Command Chief Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Philippine Army 6th Infantry Battalion Commander Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan and PNP ARMM OIC Senior Superintendent Noel Armilla.

Armilla lauded the gesture of the MILF. "Tinawagan ko kanina si (PNP OIC) Deputy Director Gen. Espina at ipinaalam ko ang nangyaring ito at ipinapaabot nya sa leadership ng MILF ang kanyang pasasalamat (I called up [PNP OIC] Deputy Director Gen. Espina to inform him of this event and he wanted me to extend his appreciation to the leadership of the MILF)," he said.

“This is a very fitting gesture,” Catapang said, while also thanking the MILF for “going the extra mile to jumpstart our efforts to win the peace in Mindanao,” he added.

Peace process disrupted but not beaten back. “You must understand how we feel as soldiers wanting to win the peace, to claim the peace for our country,” Catapang said. “This is an unfortunate event, but it should not deter us from claiming the peace for our country.”

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman similarly sounded the call for the continuation of the peace process despite the tragedy.

“Pinatunayan ng both panels ang kanilang katapatan na dapat magkaroon ng kapayapaan (Both panels have shown they are sincere in aspiring for peace),” Hataman said.

Deles also expressed hope that the public will be able to appreciate the move of the MILF to return the SAF firearms it retrieved and presented in Maguindanao.

“I hope and pray that our leaders and our people will understand and appreciate the meaning of this event, work with us to heal the wounds and move forward,” Deles said. ‎"Our grief has been palpable as we mourned the loss of so many in a single day-- government enforcers, rebel group members and civilians -- all Filipinos and brothers and sisters to us all."

“The peace process has been disrupted but not beaten back,” Deles affirmed. “Together with our peace partners we will forge ahead. Mamasapano must be turned from a battleground to a haven for peace.”

“Let us stand for peace and reclaim the birthright of countless generations of Filipinos yet unborn, of a country united in a just and lasting peace,” she added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=737032