Peace process unhampered despite MILF encounter in Basilan — AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the military’s fatal encounter with some Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in Sumisip, Basilan province “did not hamper” the entire Bangsamoro peace process.

This was emphasized by AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla in a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“This is under investigation, but this is part of the whole process of the peace process. It was not hampered by this incident. What we want to happen here is to resolve the issues that came up unexpectedly, and the gains we made from the peace process are still ongoing. As our Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has said, let us give peace a chance,” she told reporters.

Padilla described the incident as an “isolated case” in the most serious violence.

“We have made leaps and bounds in our peace process. The Armed Forces of the Philippines would really not want to undermine the gains that we have acquired through the years,” she said.

“The hope of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is that this will not happen again on their part and that proper sanctions be given to this person.”

She then pointed out, "For so many years, there haven’t been any incidents like this.”

AFP Public Affairs Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad also assured that the recent Basilan clash will not spoil the ongoing decommissioning of the MILF members and the normalization efforts in the Bangsamoro.

“It will not be spoiled. I think it's very clear,” he said.

Under the decommissioning program, qualified family beneficiaries were also given a Bangsamoro Transitory Family Support Package amounting to P80,000 and P20,000 worth of Livelihood Settlement Grants.

This program is part of the normalization track under the Bangsamoro Organic Law — which is designed for the peaceful reintegration of former combatants into their communities, with several support packages provided by the concerned national agencies and local government units.

Padilla said most MILF members are already immersed in regular society under the normalization program.

The ambush incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Cabengbeng, Sumisip, Basilan.

The troops were providing security for personnel from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducting validation missions and stakeholder coordination under Project Modelling Livelihood Initiatives.

Brawner earlier stressed the mission was “well-coordinated” by the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) under the Joint Normalization Committee and the local leaders in the area.

The MILF is currently conducting its internal investigation into the incident.