KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 23 January) – The Bangsamoro government appealed for restraint on Thursday following the encounter in Basilan province Wednesday afternoon between Army soldiers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
In a statement, Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, the interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro government, called on both sides to avoid doing actions or issuing statements that may exacerbate tensions.
“We urge all parties to remain calm as we work toward addressing this incident through appropriate channels,” he said.
He was referring to the established mechanisms under the Bangsamoro peace process, particularly the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Joint Ad Hoc Action Group (AHJAG),
Ebrahim noted they are “the best platforms to resolve the matter.”
“These mechanisms have been instrumental in maintaining peace and stability and ensuring accountability on all sides,” he said.
He said the regional government was saddened by the “unfortunate encounter” between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and MILF members in Sumisip town.
The armed encounter killed two Army soldiers and wounded 12 others. One MILF member was wounded, reports from both sides said.
Ebrahim, who is also concurrently MILF chairperson, said the incident was “particularly disheartening as it transpired during the weeklong celebration” of the sixth foundation anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In a radio interview in Cotabato City on Thursday, Anwar Alamada, chairperson of the MILF – AHJAG, said the members of the 32nd Infantry Battalion did not coordinate with the CCCH or the AHJAG prior to entering the village, which is an MILF community under the front’s 114th Base Command.
Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the Army troops were providing security to a team from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The military official said the UNDP mission, from January 21 to 24, was coordinated with the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) under the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), with the support of local leaders.
Luzon said the incident was “isolated and that the province remains peaceful and secure.”
Ebrahim noted the Bangsamoro government remains steadfast in its commitment to the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and all its provisions, including those included in the Annex on Normalization.
The official said their “commitment is the foundation of our shared aspiration for genuine and lasting peace in the Bangsamoro region.”
The CAB was signed by the Philippine government and the MILF in 2014 after 17 years of peace negotiations.
It provided for the creation of a Bangsamoro autonomous region, which was realized in 2019 following the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM.
The CAB’s normalization phase includes the deactivation of MILF members and putting their weapons beyond use, and the transformation of recognized camps into peaceful and productive zones.
The deactivation of the MILF members and the transformation of their camps are still both ongoing. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
