Peace pact may allow MILF members to join police force

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – After they lay down their weapons, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) may be integrated into the national police force, Malacañang said Thursday.

“In the annexes to the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro) there are clear parameters for the decommissioning through the assistance of a third party and the eventual integration of the erstwhile armed members of the MILF into the civilian police force, which is the PNP (Philippine National Police),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing.

The Secretary said those interested to join the PNP may do so.

He said such an arrangement has never been included in the previous peace agreements.

According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the decommissioning of MILF forces and weapons will coincide with the implementation of all the agreements under the CAB.

Under the Annex on Normalization, the independent decommissioning body will be composed of three foreign experts and four local experts jointly nominated by both the Philippine government and the MILF.

The GPH and the MILF are poised to sign the CAB on Thursday afternoon at the Malacañang grounds. The historic event will be attended by more than a thousand people, including foreign dignitaries and almost 500 members of the MILF.