MILF starts decommissioning of weapons, combatants despite delay in BBL

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 15): MILF starts decommissioning of weapons, combatants despite delay in BBL

The government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will kick off on Tuesday the first phase of the decommissioning program which aims to put the arms and forces of the rebel group beyond use as agreed by the Parties under the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

In simple ceremonies dubbed "Ceremonial Turnover of Weapons and Decommissioning of the MILF Combatants" to be held at the old provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, the MILF will undertake the registration and turning-in of 75 weapons to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).

Also, 145 Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) combatants will be registered and processed to formally commence their return to full civilian lives.

‎MILF panel chair Mohagher Iqbal described the decommissioning process as "one of the most difficult decisions...[of the] MILF" but noted that "for the sake of peace, for the sake of having real peace in Mindanao and for the sake of the need for normalization [of] the lives of the people including the combatants, we have to undertake decommissioning and put them [arms and forces] beyond use.

The public event will be attended by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Legislators from both chambers of Congress, the international community, among others were invited to witness the historical event, which will be held at the Old Maguindanao Provincial Capitol in Simuay Crossing, Sultan Kultarat.

The turnover ceremonies will likewise be attended by MILF Chair Murad Ebrahim, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, members of both peace panels and other stakeholders.

The IDB is headed by Turkey's former ambassador to NATO, Haydar Berk. Its other members are Jan Erik Wilhemsen from Norway, Maj. Muhammad Aiman Syazwi Bin Haji Abdul Rahim from Brunei, and local experts, AFP ret. Lt. Gen. Rey Ardor, Dr. Mario Aguja, Von Al-Haq and Janati Mimbantas.

GPH chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer noted that there will be several steps that will be followed during the decommissioning process on Tuesday.

"Prior to the actual decommissioning process, there will be an ‎initial registration of MILF combatants and weapons at Camp Darapanan. The combatants will be filling out forms with the supervision of the IDB local expert from MILF," she said.

"On June 16, the weapons will be transported to the Old Provincial Capitol, the event site for the actual registration process and verification."

"After processing, the decommissioned weapons will be transported to a mutually-agreed upon Weapons Storage area located inside Camp Iranun (Abubakar) in Sitio Bombaran, Brgy. Tugaig in Barira, Maguindanao. The secured area will be monitored by 30 members of the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) who will be supervised by the Joint Verification and Monitoring Team (JVMT) of the IDB," Coronel-Ferrer said.

The JVMT is headed by a foreign, independent expert with a member each from the government and MILF. Three JVMTs will take turns administering the site round the clock. Meanwhile, the JPST is made up of 15 members from the government army and police, and an equal number from the MILF. Teams of 10 JPST persons each will be on guard duty at all times.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=772445