With the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) stopped dead in the tracks, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is likely to keep their weapons and other ammunition for now.
The group cannot be compelled to decommission more weapons and combatants until the proposed peace measure is passed by Congress, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles.
“The political-legal track centered on the passage of the BBL is at the heart of the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro). There is no full implementation of the CAB —specifically, no further decommissioning beyond the 1st batch of 145 – until the law is passed,” Deles said.
Last weekend, President Aquino ordered Deles to draft an “action plan” promoting the peace process in Mindanao beyond his term after the 16th Congress failed to pass the BBL. Deles was also directed to consult with various stakeholders including the MILF in firming up the Mindanao peace plan.
In the historic peace agreement with the government in March 2014, the MILF agreed to give up their armed rebellion in exchange of the establishment of a new Bangsamoro political entity. The Bangsamoro peace pact included arrangements on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, normalization and transitional mechanisms.
The BBL, a pet bill of the President, is supposed to be the legal document that will create the new territory in the south.
So far, only 75 weapons have been turned over by the MILF as part of the normalization process of the peace deal. At least 145 MILF combatants also volunteered to undergo decommissioning process with most of them planning to venture into farming, start their own business and pursue schooling.
The first phase of the decommissioning process was witnessed by President Aquino in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao in June 2015.
http://www.mb.com.ph/milf-likely-to-keep-weapons-for-now-deles/
The group cannot be compelled to decommission more weapons and combatants until the proposed peace measure is passed by Congress, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles.
“The political-legal track centered on the passage of the BBL is at the heart of the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro). There is no full implementation of the CAB —specifically, no further decommissioning beyond the 1st batch of 145 – until the law is passed,” Deles said.
Given such scenario, Deles said the government is moving to strengthen mechanisms for the peaceful transition from the ARMM to the Bangsamoro “which is the core of roadmap for the full settlement of the armed conflict.”
In the historic peace agreement with the government in March 2014, the MILF agreed to give up their armed rebellion in exchange of the establishment of a new Bangsamoro political entity. The Bangsamoro peace pact included arrangements on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, normalization and transitional mechanisms.
The BBL, a pet bill of the President, is supposed to be the legal document that will create the new territory in the south.
So far, only 75 weapons have been turned over by the MILF as part of the normalization process of the peace deal. At least 145 MILF combatants also volunteered to undergo decommissioning process with most of them planning to venture into farming, start their own business and pursue schooling.
The first phase of the decommissioning process was witnessed by President Aquino in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao in June 2015.
http://www.mb.com.ph/milf-likely-to-keep-weapons-for-now-deles/
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