SECURITY FORCE Moro Islamic Liberation Front members patrol a marshland in Maguindanao province. They can vote in the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, minus their firearms. —KARLOS MANLUPIG
MAGUINDANAO — The former separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is allowing its members to vote in the May 14 village and youth council elections and even the setting up of polling precincts in its camps.
They, however, could not yet run as candidates or join the electoral campaign, said Von Al Haq, spokesperson for the MILF’s military wing, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.
For MILF leaders, Al Haq said their participation was on a voluntary basis. It was up to them if they vote or not, he said.
Candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are barred from running under a political party, as the polls are nonpartisan.
The MILF first relaxed its policy on the electoral exercise of supporters in the 2013 midterm elections. It announced that they would be allowed to vote, but campaigning and other forms of action that benefited candidates were banned.
Electoral policy
In 2015, the MILF formed United Bangsamoro Justice Party in anticipation of its participation in the 2016 presidential election and the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to govern the proposed Moro homeland. Congress, however, has failed to pass the BBL.
“Unless the BBL had been put in place and the new Bangsamoro entity had been established, we cannot participate in any elections,” said Ghazali Jaafar, MILF first vice chair.
To help ensure that the May 14 polls will be peaceful and orderly, Al Haq said the MILF’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) had signed a deal with the military, which permitted government forces to move freely inside MILF territories as long as their activities were related to their election duties.
“We know that they will enter, pass by, or bring in ballots. And that was agreed on by both parties. We do not see it as a problem,” he said.
Avoiding friendly fire
He said, however, that proper coordination must still be observed to avoid confusion and friendly fire.
While government forces were tasked with securing the elections, the MILF is willing to provide immediate support if necessary, Al Haq said.
The MILF and the military have also agreed to establish mechanisms that would ensure the free movement of civilians and MILF forces inside rebel-held areas, he said.
“Main routes, water and land usually used by the MILF troops during movements and activities shall be left open,” Al Haq said. “Provided, however, that MILF movements are properly coordinated earlier with the [government] CCCH and the existing ceasefire mechanisms.”
MILF members who will vote are not allowed to carry firearms, he said. Likewise, armed members are prohibited from approaching polling centers and precincts.
The movement of MILF members will be restricted, Al Haq said. They will be barred from massing up in any area during the election period, except at Camp Darapanan in Maguindanao and Camp Bushra in Lanao del Sur.