MILF: “There is 'huge disappointment' over Congress’ failure to pass BBL but ceasefire mechanisms still work”: Sec. Deles

Posted to the MILF Website (Feb 29): “There is 'huge disappointment' over Congress’ failure to pass BBL but ceasefire mechanisms still work”: Sec. Deles



In a report by Philstar yesterday, February 28, 2016, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos- Deles admitted that there is a “huge disappointment” over Congress’ failure to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) but the ceasefire mechanisms are still working.

The statement came in the light of the ongoing firefights between the army and armed men in Butig, Lanao Del Sur that AFP considers as ‘terrorists’, a statement belied by MILF 1st Vice Chairman Ghadzali Jaafar.

Jaafar said that armed men fighting government troops in Lana Del Sur are not “terrorists” but Moros who are said to be dismayed by the bypassing of the Bangsamoro Law.

”The ceasefire mechanisms are still working and that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are not standing in the way of the law enforcement operations in Lanao del Sur”, Philstar quoted Deles saying.

"Certainly, the huge disappointment over the non-passage of the BBL provides more enticing, fertile ground for recruitment to radical, extremist thought and action,” Deles said in a statement forwarded to reporters by Presidential Communications and Operations Office’ Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr..

“Thankfully, our ceasefire mechanisms particularly, the GPH (Government of the Philippines)-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, with the International Monitoring Team are working closely and robustly with the security sector to maintain peace and order on the ground, including curbing the spread of extremism,” she added.

The military said two soldiers dead and six others were wounded during the encounter. While another three were killed and 11 others were wounded during the pursuit operations, according to a WestMincom report released last Friday, the Philstar report said.

The military claims that based on intelligence report, there were 42 armed men killed in the clashes.

Abdullah Macapaar alias Comdr. Bravo of Northwest Mindanao Front of BIAF-MILF denied in an interview by local TV station that they are part of the armed men that engaged the army in Butig, Lana Del Sur.

Coloma said the government is working hard to ensure that the gains of the peace talks with the MILF would cross over to the next administration.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/news/19-national/587-there-is-huge-disappointment-over-congress-failure-to-pass-bbl-but-ceasefire-mechanisms-still-work-sec-deles