Negotiations are underway for the surrender of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters involved in last month’s ambush in Basilan province, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Wednesday.

In an ambush interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Brawner also noted the pursuit of perpetrators behind the deadly 22 February attack in Barangay Cabengbeng, Municipality of Sumisip.

Military forces were providing security for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) personnel conducting validation missions under Project Modelling Livelihood Initiatives when a group of lawless elements launched a sudden attack on the civilian convoy.

These unidentified lawless elements, along with some MILF members, fired gunshots at the troops and mission convoy before burning a military KM450 truck, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to 12 others.

“Continuous po yung ating negotiations with them (Our negotiations with them are continuous),” Brawner said, when asked if the MILF is willing to surrender members involved in the clash.

Brawner also noted that the AFP has already filed a protest regarding the MILF members’ involvement in the incident.

“We are following the peace mechanisms. Meron naman po tayong peace mechanisms na sinusunod. So nag-file na po tayo ng protesta laban sa mga miyembro ng MILF na sumama dun sa pag-ambush ng mga tropa natin sa Basilan (We also have peace mechanisms that are being followed. So we have filed a protest against the MILF members who joined the ambush of our troops in Basilan),” he said.

The ambush incident occurred amid the ongoing normalization process in the Bangsamoro region and the decommissioning program for MILF’s former combatants.

Mohagher Iqbal, chairperson of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel, previously suggested that the clash could have been triggered by a lack of coordination between the two groups.

However, Brawner insisted the mission, involving military forces, was “well-coordinated” by the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) under the Joint Normalization Committee, as well as local leaders in the area.

“We want to make it that there was a coordination — from the top to the lower units. The letter of the Joint Normalization Committee was given to many addressees, not only in the government but also on the MILF side. So there was prior coordination,” he said.

Deployment of more soldiers amid polls

Brawner said the AFP will retain the number of soldiers currently deployed in Basilan following the incident.

“In fact, magtatanggal sana kami ng unit dun but because of what happened, hindi muna kami magtatanggal,” he said.

He added that the military is also considering sending additional troops to the area, as Congress approved postponing elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to a later date.

“We signed a solidarity pledge and we promised that as an organization — the AFP will assist in making sure that the 2025 midterm election, national midterm elections, and BARMM elections ay magiging peaceful and secure," he said.

More soldiers will also be deployed nationwide, Brawner added.

“We are deputized by Comelec to assist in the national elections,” he said.

Brawner likewise vowed to help the Philippine National Police ensure safe and peaceful elections in various polling precincts and centers. He also committed AFP support in dismantling private armed groups ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.