MILF dismisses ‘potential unrest’ concerns during BSKE: Hindi kami manggugulo

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday dismissed concerns that the possible mismanagement of its decommissioning process may result in unrest during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on October 30.

MILF Peace Implementing Panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told GMA News Online that the MILF has no plans to cause trouble during the elections.

“Walang balak at hindi binabalak ng MILF manggulo. Hindi kami manggugulo diyan kasi 'yan ay democratic exercise para alamin natin kung sino talaga ang gusto ng taumbayan at iboto,” he said.

(We have no plans and we are not planning to disrupt the elections. We will not disrupt it because that is a democratic exercise so we can know whom the public want to vote for.)

Iqbal also lamented that BSKE security concerns seem to be focused on the MILF, considering that there are private armed groups that could be used by politicians to threaten the peaceful conduct of the polls.

On Tuesday, five governors from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) urged Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. to raise the issue of full decommissioning of the MILF in a Cabinet meeting.

The BARMM Governors Caucus (BGC) warned of “potential unrest” in the region during the BSKE should the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government fail to properly manage the process.

Asked if he agrees that the issue of full decommissioning of the MILF should be raised in a Cabinet meeting, Iqbal said it is up to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

He added that the matter should only be discussed between the MILF and the government.

Under the peace deal with the government, 40,000 MILF combatants are required to undergo decommissioning.

In September 2022, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said the decommissioning of the MILF would be completed by 2024.

Over 15,000 MILF combatants will be decommissioned in 2023 and 2024.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Abalos and DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong. — BM, GMA Integrated News