MILF, Army 'foes' no more

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 5): MILF, Army 'foes' no more

A ranking official of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said that a "good relationship" exists between them and the government security forces.

"They used to be arch enemies but with the ceasefire mechanism working so well, no skirmishes have erupted the past years," said Mohammas Nasif, BIAF operations commander and chair of the MILF decommissioning team.

Naif made the statement during the joint "Brigada Eskwela" and dental outreach program by MILF, the Army's 6th Infantry Division and Department of Education inside the former MILF stronghold, Camp Abubakar in Barira, Maguindanao.

The joint effort, he said forms part of the Normalization process of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

"In fact we have a joint Army, MILF and PNP training," he told reporters.

"Darating ang panahon na mismong ang militar at PNP na ang magbibigay ng seguridad sa mga MILF communities (We look forward to the one day it is the military and PNP who will provide security for MILF communities)," Naif said.

After the Barira joint activity, the group proceeded to Barangay Rajamuda, Pikit, North Cotabato, once a battle ground between government forces and MILF.

The "Brigada Eskwela" has a theme “Ang batang Bangsamoro ay dapat nasa paaralan, ayaw sa barilan,” was participated by the representatives from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), MILF, local government units (LGUs) and various line agencies of the government that include the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DOH).

Brig. General Carlito Galvez, head of the Coordinating Committee for the Cessation of Hostilities of the government (GPH-CCCH), said the activity manifests the readiness of the MILF to embrace society.

Galvez, in his message, called on participants to join hands for the future of Bangsamoro children.

“Sama sama po tayo na aagapay para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak. Tulungan nating palakasin ang governance ng Bangsamoro (Let's join hands to guide our children so they have better future. Let us be an instrument for a strong Bangsamoro government),” he said.

Galvez made it clear that the activities are part of the normalization process as defined in the Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro (CAB) that was signed by both the government and MILF peace panels.

Omar Obas, Schools Division Superintendent of North Cotabato, also expressed gratitude to OPAPP, AFP, the MILF and other development stakeholders for choosing Rajamuda as one of the beneficiaries of Brigada Eskwela.

“Matagal na nating minimithi ang kapayapaan. Kaya bilang paghahanda sa nalalapit na pagpasa ng Bangsamoro Basic Law nararapat lamang na magkaron tayo ng mga pagtitipon na tulad nito (We have been longing for peace in this community. With the upcoming Bagnsamoro government, we expect to see more like this),” he said, adding that "Brigada Eskwela" is an expression of unity and peace.

Dulia Sultan, Board Member of North Cotabato and represented Gov. Emmylou Mendoza in the event, also lauded the joint efforts to achieve lasting peace in troubled communities.

"Brigada Eskwela," Sultan said, is a pursuit where weapons of war are shelved and replaced with the tools of education, peace and development.

“Ang pagkawala ng armas sa mata ng mga bata ay paraan upang tuluyan nang mawaglit sa kanilang isipan ang barilan at kaguluhan. Paaralan at lapis ang ating gamitin upang tulungan silang maging masigasig sa pag-aaral at makamit ang magandang kinabukasan,” she added.

School buildings and classrooms were repaired by AFP troopers and MILF fighters during the activity.

Dental services and free haircut were also given to the school children in the area.

Abdul Kadir Manibpil, the deputy brigade commander of the National Guard Front of the MILF graced the occasion and led his men, together with the AFP troopers in the repair of school buildings and classrooms.

Manibpil assured the full support of the MILF to the activity, saying that Brigada Eskwela will turn schools into conducive and favorable learning facilities for Bangsamoro children.

Col. Noel Clement, commander of the 602nd Brigade, was also thankful for the opportunity given to the AFP to take part in the undertaking that he said would show that soldiers are not only trained for war but also to perform peace and development works.

 

“We will not only build classrooms in today’s activity. We will also rebuild the lives of our school children,” Clement stressed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=769192