PRRD to lead decommissioning of MILF forces Sept. 7

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed officials at the Malacañan Palace on August 5, 2019. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to lead the launch of the decommissioning process of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants on September 7, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Tuesday.

Galvez said a total of 1,026 MILF forces and 920 firearms are scheduled to be decommissioned during the ceremony.

“The public launch of the decommissioning process will be on September 7 and will be attended by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte,” Galvez said in a Palace briefing.

Galvez said the decommissioning process aims to decommission 30 percent or 12,000 out of the 40,000 MILF members for this year.

He said another 35 percent of the MILF forces will undergo the same procedure next year while the rest until 2022 in time for the Exit Agreement between the government and the MILF.

Galvez described the decommissioning the MILF combatant as a “real” challenge.

The Normalization Track is anchored on the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the government and the MILF in 2014.

It is being carried out simultaneously with the Political Track of the peace agreement, which includes the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Duterte earlier signed Executive Order No.

79 or the Annex on Normalization to consolidate whole of government-whole of nation peace-building initiatives under the Normalization Track.