Basilan native appointed new MILF ceasefire committee chief

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday announced it has appointed a Basilan native to chair its Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH).

MILF peace panel head Mohagher Iqbal said its new CCCH head, Abbas Salung, has been a member of the MILF's CCCH since 2007.

“We are confident that he can perform well and his appointment is a positive development in our vision–mission for the Bangsamoro and Muslim ummanh as well as to the government–MILF peace process,” Iqbal said in an article on the MILF website.

Iqbal said Salung was appointed acting chairman of the MILF CCCH since May 1, replacing Said Shiek who was appointed as a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

Salung is the first chairman of the MILF CCCH from Basilan province, he added.

“The MILF has full trust and confidence with Brother Salung. Salung has proven his commitment, competence and credibility to the cause of the Bangsamoro and the MILF for right to self–determination and the peace process,” he said.

The MILF CCCH works closely with the government CCCH and the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team to maintain the ceasefire between the government and the MILF.

It also helps establish an enabling environment for the peace process and the peace negotiations.

The MILF said Salung and the MILF CCCH secretariat head took a two-week Course on the United Nations Framework on Ceasefire Monitoring and Mediation in Oslo, Norway last March.

The training would be "very useful" for his duties and functions with the CCCH, the group said. — KBK, GMA News