COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 17 August) — The chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, issued a directive on August 16 prohibiting commanders and officials from participating in government-led decommissioning or normalization activities without prior written approval. The order, MILF Memorandum No. 037, reinforces a July 19, 2025 Central Committee resolution suspending the fourth phase of decommissioning until the Philippine government fulfills socio-economic commitments to 26,145 already decommissioned combatants.
Under the 2014 peace agreement, 40,000 MILF combatants and 7,200 weapons were slated for decommissioning. So far, 26,145 combatants and 4,625 weapons have been processed in Phases 1–3. The suspended Phase 4 would cover 14,000 combatants and 2,575 weapons. Murad warned that violations would be met with disciplinary action.
The Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), chaired by Turkey, requires the MILF Central Committee to submit combatant lists before processing. Meanwhile, OPAPRU’s David Diciano disputed the MILF’s claims of unmet obligations, citing P4 billion in socio-economic aid since 2019, including P100,000 cash assistance per combatant, PhilHealth coverage, and skills training. He noted that P488 million allocated for Phase 4 in 2023 was returned after the MILF failed to submit its list.
The deferment has drawn congressional scrutiny, with Senator Imee Marcos and Rep. Elijah San Fernando filing resolutions to investigate its impact on peace and security. The BARMM transition, extended to October 30, 2025, will culminate in parliamentary elections to choose a new Chief Minister. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera and Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)
