Peace initiative: MILF joins ARMM Charter Day

COTABATO CITY — For the first time, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sent a representative to the Charter Day celebration of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF first vice chair, attended ARMM’s 28th Charter Day, signifying the event’s significance to forging peace with the rebel group.

The MILF refused to recognize the ARMM as a representation of the Bangsamoro aspirations, even calling its creation a “sham autonomy” and a “failed experiment.”

But Jaafar said: “We in the MILF do not reject peace and development initiatives for the Bangsamoro people and the current ARMM government is good on that.” —Edwin Fernandez and Charlie Señase