Moro Islamic Liberation Front AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Like a car, the rebels’ cache of firearms would be “garaged” under lock and key, officials said Friday.
After sealing a peace agreement with the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is set to decommission its forces and firearms, but does not discount the emergence of another rebel group.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said that their firearms would be stored in a warehouse in the custody of a third party as part of decommissioning, and would not be destroyed.
“It’s like a car, it would be garaged,’’ he said at a joint news briefing with government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer at the Manila Hotel, portions of which were aired live over ANC.
Ferrer agreed, and said that the firearms would be under safekeeping by a still unidentified third party.
“It will be under lock and key,” she said. “The principle is to put it beyond use. How exactly it can be put beyond use, that’s something that can be discussed.’’
By agreeing on this, both parties were taking a risk “because of the paramount interest to move forward, to change the situation and bring elements in place,’’ she said.
Neither Ferrer nor Iqbal could give a specific figure on the number of firearms. Ferrer, however, said the MILF would submit an inventory of the firearms and combatants to an independent decommissioning body.
As the MILF decommissions its forces, the Armed Forces of the Philippine would redeploy its troops in MILF camps or Bangsamoro areas, according to Iqbal.
At the same time, private armies will be dismantled, a Bangsamoro police force will be formed, socio-economic intervention will be introduced, he added.
“So when everything is settled… then who is in need of firearms?’’ he said.
Iqbal said the MILF could not guarantee that no other rebel group would emerge, but even if this happened, “they have no more cause to fight for.’’
Meanwhile, the peace deal is so inclusive that the Moro National Liberation Front, from which the MILF broke away in 1977, could take part in the 2016 elections, MILF panel member Abhoud Syed Lingga said. The current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which the Bagsamoro is to replace, was the result of a peace agreement between the government and the MNLF in 1996.
Lingga said the comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro covered other key items that were missing in the government’s 1996 agreement with the MNLF.
“The implementation of the CAB is also inclusive. There’s a big opportunity for the MNLF to lead the Bangsamoro. If in an election they’ll win majority seats, they will be able to form the government,’’ he said at the same briefing.
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