CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao del Norte – Witnessed by the newly appointed Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido together with Major General Alex S. Rillera, Commander of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division and Joint Task Force Central is the third part of the decommissioning process on members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) or combatant members of the MILF who held at the Old Capitol, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, today (August 3, 2023).
According to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) about 1,301 members of the BIAF, MILF will undergo decommissioning along with their weapons as part of the said process.
The said activity was also attended by Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo, Jr., the Special Assistant to the President who was also the guest of honor and speaker. It said the government would continue to help them and asked to avoid any disturbance.
According to Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., OPAPRU will reach 26 thousand combatants who will be decommissioned after this third part.
Ambassador Suat Akgun, the Chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body, said their target is to complete the decommissioning process before what will be BARMM’s first election in the coming 2025 elections.
BARMM Chief Minister, Ahod Ebrahim, Al Haj, is confident that through this the Bangsamoro will continue to achieve peace in this part of Mindanao. The decommissioning process is part of the peace talks between the government and the MILF in the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), signed by the GPH and the MILF in 2014.
Maj. also attended. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Division Command of 1ID; GPH Implementing Panel Chair for the GPH-MILF Peace Accord retired Brig. Gen. Cesar B. Yano; Chair, MILF Peace Implementing Panel, Minister Mohaqher Iqbal; DA Asec Samsamin Ampatuan, PBGen. Allan C. Nobleza, Regional Director, PRO BAR and many others.
####
