Deles sees start of decommissioning process to have positive effect on BBL timeline

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16): Deles sees start of decommissioning process to have positive effect on BBL timeline

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles is confident that the start of the decommissioning of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and weapons would have a positive effect on the legislative process surrounding the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“Inaantay na lang po natin ang tuluyang pagpapasa ng BBL, ang pagtatayo ng Bangsamoro at ang pagkakaroon nito ng mga sariling halal na lider upang makita natin ang tuluyang pagbababa ng armas ng MILF. Ito ang umpisa ng kapayapaan sa Bangsamoro at sa buong Mindanao (We are just awaiting the eventual passage of the BBL, the establishment of the Bangsamoro government, and the election of its leaders in order for the full decommissioning of the MILF to push through),” explained Deles.

Under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the government and the MILF, the decommissioning process will follow legislative milestones of the proposed basic law that will entrench a replacement to the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The CAB stipulates that 30% of MILF combatants and weapons will be decommissioned upon the passage of the BBL, to be followed by another 35% after the plebiscite and the appointment of members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA). The remaining 35% will be decommissioned once the Bangsamoro government is established and its leaders are duly elected.

The June 16 ceremonial decommissioning of 145 MILF combatants and 75 crew-serve weapons and high-powered weapons is to signal the start of the process, also stipulated in the CAB.

“Masaya tayo na patuloy ipinapakita ng MILF na katuwang sila ng pamahalaan sa layunin na itigil ang pag-aarmas sa Mindanao sa kabila ng pagka-antala sa pagsasabatas ng BBL (We are happy the MILF continues to be a partner of the government in its objective to bring peace in Mindanao through the reduction of firearms in the area despite the delays in the BBL passage),” Deles added.

The MILF is expected to turn in their weapons to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), which in turn will place the said weapons in a secured area. The combatants, on the other hand, will receive socio-economic packages to help them jumpstart their return to normal, civilian lives.

Both Houses of Congress adjourned sine die last week, with both vowing to continue working on the BBL once session resumes in late July. The House of Representatives is in the middle of plenary interpellation while Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, has committed to presenting a substitute bill.

The leadership of both Houses is looking at September or October as the new deadline for the BBL passage, in time for the filing of candidacies for the 2016 elections.

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