OPAPP ‘exceeded’ target in decommissioning MILF

PEACE SITUATION. Presidential Peace Adviser chief-of-staff and spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, delivers his speech during the “Duterte Legacy” campaign launch at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday (Jan. 17, 2020). Mayor said 1,542 out of 2,000 firearms and 617 ammunition were already turned over to the government by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (PNA photo by Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)

MANILA — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has “exceeded” its target to decommission members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), its spokesperson said on Friday.

During the “Duterte Legacy” campaign launch, Presidential Peace Adviser chief-of-staff and spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, noted that about 8,879 out of the 12,000 MILF combatants were decommissioned from the last quarter of 2019.

Mayor added that 1,542 out of 2,000 firearms and 617 ammunition have been turned over to the government by the MILF.

“We are proud to report that we have exceeded our targets in the decommissioning of MILF combatants and their weapons,” he said in a speech delivered at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“We achieved milestone after milestone, which demonstrates the commitment and resolve of the Duterte administration for peace process.”

The decommissioning of Moro combatants is under the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) inked between the national government and the MILF in 2014.

Mayor said the decommissioned MILF combatants have been trained to be part of the joint peace and security teams.

He said they would serve as “peacekeeping forces” in their communities and in the areas where decommissioning is taking place.

“The decommissioned combatants received PHP100,000 immediate cash allotment for socio-economic livelihood to transition them to a productive civilian,” Mayor said.

“In our camp transformation programs, we have a series of agricultural exposure programs and series of planning sessions to capacitate the MNLF base and front commanders so that they have the essential skills for agribusiness and food production.”

Meanwhile, the first track of the CAB, which is the political path, has paved the way for the passage and ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The BOL established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), replacing the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The BARMM enjoys expanded land and water jurisdiction, greater fiscal autonomy, and increased share in national government resources, among others.

The new Bangsamoro region is composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Marawi City, Lamitan City, Cotabato City, and 63 villages in North Cotabato.

BARMM chief minister Murad Ebrahim, also present during the event, thanked the President for fulfilling his promise of ending the decades-long struggles of the Moro people.

“This Bangsamoro Organic Law provides the creation of an autonomous government in southern Philippines region,” he said.

“We have struggled for more than 50 years. We have passed so many presidents and I think, if not for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, I think it is still very difficult to achieve a law that will translate the agreement and the implementation of the agreement,” Ebrahim added.