DAVAO CITY – The former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has warned its members against engaging in activities that will ruin the peace and order in the southern region.
The Department of Defense (DND) welcomed this measure imposed by the MILF headed by Ahod Ebrahim, the current Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro autonomous region.
Arsenio Andolong, spokesperson for DND, described the MILF policy as manifestation of its commitment to uphold and sustain the peace process. He said a recent MILF memorandum also denounced the involvement in armed conflicts by its members arising from family feuds and/or political rivalries, and warned of automatic termination from the roster of the MILF, if found guilty.
“This move, allows
the security sector to stay on track in the implementation of peace and
development programs, especially in Mindanao,” Andolong said.
Just last month, two former MILF guerrillas involved in an attack that killed a soldier and a police officer in Basilan surrendered to the military. The suspects, Adzmin Manjapal, 20, and Mudzni Sapau, 27, were among the 10 MILF gunmen behind the ambushed of government security team on August 12 in Ulitan, a village of Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province.
Police said the MILF ambushers were also joined by the Abu Sayyaf in the attack.
Andolong said the national government, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will continue to collaborate with and support the Bangsamoro government in attaining and maintaining genuine and lasting peace in the region.
In 2014, the government and MILF signed a peace agreement, with the MILF ending its long-running separatist insurgency in exchange for autonomous rule in Mindanao.
Under the peace
deal’s terms, the group promised to have
its tens of thousands
of members turn over and decommission their weapons, but the MILF has struggled
to meet that target. (Jeoffrey Maitem)
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