BARMM governors call for assessment of decommissioning process

The governors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have called for an assessment of the decomissioning process in the region.

In a statement, the Bangsamoro Governors' Caucus also called on the implementing panels of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to work for "a clear and detailed plan, timeline, and milestones for meaningful completion before the 2025 elections."

The governors—Basilan Gov. Hadjiman S. Hataman-Salliman, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong , Jr., Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam
Sangki-Mangudadatu, Sulu Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan, and Tawi-Tawi Gov. Ysmael “Mang” I. Sali urged "a whole-of-government approach, involving regional and local government units as well as Congress, to address the measures necessary for successful decommissioning."

“Recent developments in the decommissioning process of the MILF in the BARMM have raised serious concerns about the prospects for lasting peace in the region,” the governors said.

The caucus also called on the Philippine government and MILF implementing panels to assess the “true state” of the decommissioning process.

“On July 26, 2023, OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez announced that the government aims to complete the decommissioning of MILF combatants before the BARMM elections in May 2025. As of now, the third phase of decommissioning, which involved 26,145 MILF combatants and 4,625 weapons, has been completed,” the governors said.

“However, the fourth and final phase still aims to decommission the remaining 40,000 combatants and 7,000 firearms,” they added.

Sought for comment, Galvez said the "governors should understand that the decommissioning process shall go hand in hand with the total effort of the government in reducing, if not total elimination of, the proliferation of illegal and unregistered firearms."

"It should go in parallel with the dismantling of private armed groups, national firearms control law and gun ban, and registration of small arms and light weapons (SALW)," Galvez said.

"We recognized that OPAPRUs program is very comprehensive but it needs to be localized with the active participation of the governors, mayors and barangay officials," he added. 

"The complete firearms control should include the turn over of firearms not only by the MILF but also the MNLF, other armed groups like the CPP-NPA, unregistered arms owned by private individuals and groups," Galvez said. —NB, GMA Integrated News