BASILAN – Leaders of two warring groups the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have signed a peace deal following a series of talks and mediation by the Philippine government in the southern Muslim province of Basilan.
A photo released by the Western Mindanao Command shows Rajan Abdulrahman, Deputy Commander for Guerrilla Force of the MILF’s 114th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, and Usong Ugong, of the MNLF and Parangbasak village chieftain Mohammad Juddihal Muddalan who signed a peace accord on Tuesday, January 17.
Lt. Col. Abdurasad Sirajan, who headed the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, said both the MILF and the MNLF were finally able to settle their issues and concerns.
He said the group of Rajan Abdulrahman, Deputy Commander for Guerrilla Force of the MILF’s 114th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, and the groups of Usong Ugong, of the MNLF; and Parangbasak village chieftain Mohammad Juddihal Muddalan signed a peace accord on Tuesday, January 17.
“The peaceful resolution of the conflict is also attributable to the collective efforts of the BARMM's Ministry of Public Order and Safety, Joint Peace and Security of Sumisip and Tipo-Tipo towns and other security and local government agencies,” Sirajan said, adding Col. Wendell Basat, the Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operations in Western Mindanao Command, and member of the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), also participated in peace talks.
Sirajan said the conflict between the groups of Abdulrahman and Muddalan began in August 2022 when the MILF members killed an alleged drug pusher who was a nephew of Muddalan. He said the CCCH immediately intervened to pre-empt the situation from getting worse and to avoid its escalation that may affect the civilian communities in the area.
Marine Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, lauded the peace efforts. “I commend you all for your efforts to sustain the peace in Basilan and preserve the sanctity of the peace agreement. I hope that this will be the start of a better relationship among the peace-inclined groups. Let us all be united for peace,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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