Galvez: Third phase of decommissioning MILF fighters to resume August 3

The third phase of the decommissioning of 1,301 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants will resume on August 3 and another 14,000 are expected to follow suit in the next two years, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

Galvez, who made the announcement during a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) briefing on Wednesday, was referring to the decommissioning process which is under the normalization track of the peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

"This August 3, we will have 1,301 MILF combatants who will be decommissioned to complete the first, second and third phase for a total of 26,000," Galvez was quoted in a statement issued Thursday.

Galvez said that at least 24,000 combatants have been decommissioned so far, and that number is expected to steadily increase.

"In the next two years, there are 14,000 or 35% of the total who will be decommissioned," Galvez added.

The Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), Galvez said, is expected to complete the decommissioning process before the first election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2025.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier said in his second SONA that he is proud of the progress that the BARMM has taken, and that the region will be self-governing, progressive, and effective.

Galvez said decommissioning will ensure that the President's vision will be realized.

"It’s very critical that we build on the peace gains and ensure continuing progress. One of the critical steps needed is the process of decommissioning, being among the key provisions of the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government of the Philippines and the MILF signed in 2014," Galvez said.

"The partnership between the government and the MILF enabling the final leg of the Phase 3 of the decommissioning to push through serves as a testament that both sides are sincerely committed to implementing the peace agreement," government implementing peace panel chair for the Government-MILF Peace Accord retired Brigadier General Cesar Yano added. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA Integrated News