Peace caravans go on despite MILF decommissioning

Peace caravans go on despite MILF decommissioning | Daily Tribune

The Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) said Monday that the peace caravan project in Bangsamoro will proceed as planned, despite the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) recent suspension of the decommissioning of its remaining combatants and weapons.

In a statement, OSAP emphasized the significance of the peace caravans in sustaining peace efforts and delivering vital services to communities in the Bangsamoro region.

The caravans provide a wide range of support, including social protection services, livelihood programs, healthcare, civil registration, skills training, and educational assistance.

The initiatives aim to complement the decommissioning process by offering tangible socioeconomic benefits to former combatants and residents alike.

The MILF halted the decommissioning process pending the national government’s compliance with provisions outlined in the Annex on Normalization — part of the 2014 peace agreement.

According to a resolution by the MILF central committee, the group will only proceed with decommissioning its remaining 14,000 forces and 2,450 weapons once the government substantially fulfills its obligations in normalization efforts, including the agreed socio-economic package for 26,145 combatants.

Meanwhile, Malacañang assured the public that the government will engage in thorough discussions with all concerned parties regarding the decommissioning suspension to find a way forward.

Meanwhile, OSAP expressed concern that the suspension of decommissioning “would unfairly affect the combatants who are eager to transition to civilian life and access related benefits.”

Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. cited the need to push through with the peace project as promised by the Bangsamoro agreement.

“It is unfair and unjust for those who are willing to undergo the decommissioning process, depriving them of their opportunity and right to be transformed into productive, peaceful citizens as envisioned in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” he said.