Senator Calls for Legislative Inquiry on MILF Decommissioning Suspension
KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO – Senator Imee Marcos has called for a legislative inquiry into the suspension of the final phase of decommissioning involving some 14,000 former fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and 2,450 weapons. This suspension raises concerns about public safety, national security, and the ongoing Bangsamoro peace process.
Marcos filed Senate Resolution No. 49 on August 4, seeking a thorough investigation into the halt of the deactivation process. “It is important for Congress to be informed about the actual status and progress of the decommissioning process and the proper use of funds, as well as the causes of delay and its abrupt postponement,” she said. This will help determine if further legislative action is necessary.
The resolution was read in the Senate plenary on August 6 and referred to the committees on national defense and security, peace, unification, and reconciliation.
Background on MILF Decommissioning Progress
So far, 26,145 MILF combatants have been decommissioned, representing 65 percent of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces’ estimated 40,000 members. This armed wing of the former rebel group signed a peace agreement with the government in 2014 after 17 years of negotiations.
The decommissioning began as a goodwill gesture in 2015 during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III, starting with 145 combatants and 75 weapons. The second phase kicked off on September 7, 2019, deactivating 12,000 combatants and 2,100 weapons under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The third phase started on November 8, 2021, involving 14,000 combatants and 2,450 weapons, also during Duterte’s term.
MILF Halts Final Phase Over Government Compliance Issues
On July 19, the MILF Central Committee decided to suspend the final phase of decommissioning. They claimed that the Government of the Philippines (GPH) has not fully complied with its commitments, particularly regarding the provision of socio-economic packages to the combatants already decommissioned.
MILF chair Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim emphasized that to honor the peace agreement’s intent, there must be “some showing of substantial compliance” with socio-economic interventions for previously profiled combatants before proceeding with new decommissioning steps.
Government Responds to MILF’s Decision
The national government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPRU), expressed disappointment over the MILF’s halt. Presidential Assistant David Diciano of OPAPRU’s Office for Bangsamoro Transformation countered claims that the government failed to meet its socio-economic commitments.
He pointed out that major socio-economic programs have been ongoing since 2015, benefiting the 26,145 decommissioned combatants and six MILF camps. These programs include a P100,000 transitional cash assistance for each combatant upon decommissioning.
Since 2019, the government has invested around P4 billion in socio-economic support for former MILF fighters. Diciano also noted that many MILF combatants are eager to be decommissioned, observing the advantages enjoyed by those already deactivated.
Delays and Fund Allocations
Diciano highlighted that the MILF has repeatedly delayed the final decommissioning phase since 2022 despite the government’s goodwill. The national government allocated P488 million for Phase 4 decommissioning in 2023, funds which were eventually returned to the treasury in 2024 following financial regulations.
As discussions continue, the fate of the final phase of decommissioning remains uncertain, with significant implications for peace and security in the Bangsamoro region.
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