SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao --- Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) Implementing Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal and his
comrades have witnessed the atrocities of war. But now, after more than four
decades, they are finally reaping the dividends of peace and development in
their homeland.
"If
you ask us about our condition now, it's better than being a combatant. We now
have peace, justice, and socio-economic interventions from the government and
the international community so Inshallah, we hope that the quality of our lives
will improve, most especially the MILF combatants," Iqbal said during a
press briefing here last February 18, as the second phase of the
decommissioning process of MILF combatants officially resumed.
Decommissioning
is the formal process agreed upon by the Government of the Philippines and the
MILF wherein the former combatants shall lay down their arms and live peaceful
and productive civilian lives.
A total
of 3,109 MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) combatants and 558 weapons
are set to be put beyond use here at the Assembly and Processing Area (APA) by
March of this year during the second phase of decommissioning.
This
event marks an important milestone in the lives of these ex-fighters and their
families, as they turn away from armed struggle and play an active role in
pushing forward the Bangsamoro peace process.
Government
of the Philippines (GPH) Implementing Panel Chair and Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Undersecretary David B.
Diciano announced that phase two of the decommissioning process is ahead of its
target schedule.
"The
original target for the completion of the second phase of decommissioning is
April this year, but with the cooperation of all the MILF combatants and their
commanders, we were able to carry out the activities ahead of schedule,"
Diciano said.
The
Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) has already facilitated the
decommissioning of 8,879 combatants, 1,542 firearms, and 617 ammunitions from
September to December last year.
The
decommissioned MILF fighters will be receiving a livelihood package from the government
which includes P100,000 in immediate cash assistance, scholarship grants, and
various livelihood and skills training.
During
the ceremony which marked the resumption of decommissioning, Iqbal underscored
the MILF’s unwavering commitment and dedication to pursue the path of peace.
"[We]
are fully committed to overcome the obstacles along the way because there is no
other way except to overcome these obstacles. The way of peace has started and
we have to continue that no matter what the price is," he said.
Sustaining gains of peace
Bangsamoro
Transition Authority (BTA) Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua emphasized the
sincerity of the MILF "in making sure that we fulfill our end of the
bargain through the Bangsamoro Government -- as a vehicle -- to make sure that
the peace process will prosper throughout this transition phase and in the
years to come..."
Meanwhile,
Diciano reassured stakeholders in the Bangsamoro Region that the implementation
of the Normalization Program of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro
(CAB) is on track, as evidenced by the accelerated implementation of the
decommissioning process and the provision of livelihood assistance packages.
"The
milestones we have achieved over the years will not be possible without the
commitment, hard work, and resilience of everyone present here. Some of us here
may not be Bangsamoro by blood, but I am sure you that we are all Bangsamoro in
mind and spirit," he said.
Diciano
also underscored the commitment of the MILF in pursuing the path of peace
saying: "This laying down of arms represents the sincerity of the MILF to
transform from an armed group into peaceful and productive organization which
is capable of creating positive change in once underdeveloped, conflict-ridden
communities.”
In his
message read by OPAPP Undersecretary Isidro L. Purisima, Presidential Peace
Adviser Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. also reaffirmed the government's "sincerity
in implementing all its commitments under the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro."
"This
is one of the top priorities of the Duterte administration -- to bring peace
and development closer to the Bangsamoro people,” Galvez said.
Also
present during the ceremony were officials and members of the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and BTA; MILF leaders and members of the
different peace mechanisms under the CAB -- the IDB, Third Party Monitoring
Team, Joint Task Force Camps Transformation, Coordinating Committee On The
Cessation Of Hostilities, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, and International
Monitoring Team; and representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), and various international
development organizations.
Beyond the call of duty
Ariel
Hernandez, a member of the GPH Implementing Panel, underscored the importance
of greater synergy among stakeholders in pushing forward the normalization
track during a two-day meeting organized by OPAPP in January.
"[We]
should [work on] the Normalization Program at a faster pace. The faster we can
deliver, the better. But it's not only about being fast. We make it faster but
we make it as a team," Hernandez told representatives of line-agencies
belonging to the Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization's socio-economic cluster.
"It's
not just about delivering the numbers because our programs will directly impact
not only individuals but the whole community. Equally important is really how
we challenge ourselves to go beyond. It's about efficiency and teamwork," he
added.
The
ICCMN is an offshoot of Executive Order 79 implementing the Annex on
Normalization under the CAB, the peace agreement signed between the government
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The
multi-agency body is tasked, among others, to carry out the socio-economic,
security, confidence building, transitional justice, and reconciliation
components of the normalization track.
Bringing socio-economic initiatives
The
ICCMN’s socio-economic sub-cluster will focus on implementing initiatives that
are designed to help MILF decommissioned combatants and their families
reintegrate into mainstream society and live as peaceful and productive
civilians.
For
2019, the government has invested P1.9 billion for socio-economic programs,
including the transitional cash assistance and other forms of assistance
through partner government institutions.
For
2020, a total of P2.4 billion will be allocated to implement the other aspects
of normalization which include education, health, technical and livelihood training,
livelihood programs and assistance, agriculture support, social interventions,
and camps transformation. The government intends to roll out all of these
initiatives within this year to spur peace and development in the Bangsamoro.
Engr.
Baintan Ampatuan, co-chair of the GPH’s Joint Task Force on Camps
Transformation (JTFCT), said that she was impressed by the dedication and
commitment shown by the ICCMN member-agencies.
"I
am happy that the national agencies converged its efforts towards a common goal
and that is, towards the normalization of former Bangsamoro combatants and
their communities," Ampatuan said.
Prof.
Abhoud Syed Lingga, co-chairman of the MILF-JTFCT, stressed that in the
delivery of these interventions, "What is important here is that the
people in the conflict-affected areas feel the fruit of the peace process. This
will serve as a sample to [those] who are inclined to the use of violence in
order to achieve greater goal."
"This
will show them that there’s no need to use violence, and you will achieve your
goal through peaceful means," Lingga added. (PR/PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')
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