Bongao, Tawi-Tawi—The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) chaired by Mohammad Nasif headed the MILF camps visits in Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Sibugay on March 1-5, 2016.
The MILF-JNC visited the 117th Base Command of the MILF-BIAF at Camp Sultan Shariful Hasim, Languyan, and Camp Maniyupan under the Inner Base Command, National Guard Front in Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi on March 2 and 3, respectively.
On March 4, they visited MILF forces of the 113rd Base Command, in Camp Salman Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Nasif, also the MILF General Staff for Operations reminded the MILF combatants to avoid provocative actions that might affect the on-going peace process.
Commenting on the concern over the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the frustrations felt by MILF forces, Nasif asked his colleagues to remain patient and steadfast.
“We have achieved very important agreements in our talks with the Philippine government with the help of international communities, that is why you (BIAF) should never repeat what had happened before when ‘MOA-AD’ was aborted in 2008,” he stressed.
“The Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro are the fruits of our struggle and we must treasure these gains that we achieved,” said Nasif.
“Why we achieved the CAB because we work harder. And now we need to work much harder than before,” he added.
In the MILF-JNC peace advocacies, it was noted that the BIAF is fully committed to the peace agreements signed by the government and the MILF (i.e. FAB and CAB) especially on the observance of existing ceasefire mechanisms.
“We respect the agreements and obey orders from MILF Central Committee”, said one BIAF Commander in Tawi-Tawi in an exclusive interview.
Nasif disclosed that the program was closely coordinated with their counterpart in government side.
On the other hand, the Head of Islamic Call and Guidance of General Staff, BIAF-MILF, told the participants to observe patience. “Fighters that have patience will surely win as promised by Allah”.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo gave updates on current status of GPH-MIF peace process and explained the joint normalization process.
“In the current talks, we have only reached Congress. We have more steps to do,” Atty. Sinarimbo said.
He said that in the normalization program, the MILF have done their part. “They did the first decommissioning of their combatants, and weapons, handed them over to Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) as a true manifestation of its strong commitment to the peace process.
Atty. Sinarimbo further said that since no BBL is passed in the Congress, there is no more succeeding decommissioning of MILF combatants.
“Our approach in doing this is calibrated, if they give, we will also give,” he pointed out.
“The imperative to do right now is strengthen our programs, to widen our political campaign on CAB as gains of the peace process,” said Sinarimbo.
However, the 145 MILF combatants that were decommissioned will continue to benefit from socio-economic programs.
Toks Ebrahim, Administrative Officer of the GS BIAF-MILF and Chairman of MILF-Joint Peace Security Team discussed the BIAF programs that are based on four-point program of the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim.
Ebrahim told the participants that in developing Moro communities, the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) is mandated to do the work and the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) is task to develop Moro leaders in public administration and governance. These two agencies are products of the peace process.
The MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) Malik Caril presented the tasks of MILF CCCH before the participants.
Meantime, the Batch 300 member Atiollah Jamsuri, along with his Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) batch-mates who attended at the Camp Salman program said that he felt frustrated of the Philippine government in its peace process with MNLF and the MILF.
He said that there were signed agreements like the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the MOA-AD that government failed to comply.
“The government doesn’t want us Bangsamoro to have our own government as they failed to pass the BBL,” he said.
“At this stage of our life, we never think of ourselves. This struggle is for you and the young generations. We all know that you have sacrificed like what we did before and until now. Sometime we’re thinking of fighting again against the government but once we are gone in this world who else could guide you in our struggle,” Jamsuri emotionally said.
Referring to the agreements signed by the parties-GPH with MNLF and the MILF, Jamsuri told the participants, “Let us wait for another opportunity; if we didn’t achieve the passage of BBL, I know Allah will give us much better than BBL in shaa Allah (God willing).
Jamsuri appreciates much the leadership of MILF through the leadership of MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for conducting advocacy programs.
“This is good because in this way, we understand each other and builds strong brotherhood. We want to finish this struggle with you,” he said.
The JNC is also co-chaired by Undersecretary Zenonida F. Brosas for the government. The government members include MGen. Ariel B. Bernardo (Ret.) and MGen. Leo Cresente M. Ferrer (Ret.).
MILF members include Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo and Atty. Blo Adiong, Dir. Susan Guadalupe Marcaida and Toks Ebrahim.
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