AFP welcomes gov’t, MILF power-sharing deal

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday welcomed the signing of the annex on power sharing of the framework agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“It is a welcome development towards the peace initiatives of the government and for the AFP also because this will bring one part of our internal security operation closure,” AFP spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala told reporters.

The AFP is also dealing with other internal threats including the Abu Sayyaf and the New People’s Army.

“We can now concentrate on other matters such as territorial defense and, which is very relevant, the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief which we need to also focus on ever changing climate that we’re having,” Zagala said.

Last week, a Marawi police chief was kidnapped by the MILF but Zagala said it was considered an “isolated incident.

On Sunday, both panels signed the power-sharing annex of the framework agreement in Kuala Lumpur that is seen to pave the way for a permanent peace deal in Mindanao after decades-long war there. The annex on normalization, the disarmament of MILF fighters and justice for the victims of war, will be tackled next by the panels.

The panels will convene again in January.

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