AFP: Basilan clash did not hamper peace process with MILF

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday the deadly clash in Sumisip, Basilan did not spoil the normalization program of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as stipulated in the peace agreement with the rebel group

“Under investigation ito. But ito kasing buong proseso ng peace process hindi ito na-hamper with this incident. Ang gusto nating mangyari dito is ma-resolve na nga itong issue that came at hand na unexpectedly,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said at a press briefing.

(It is under investigation. But this whole process of the peace process was not hampered with this incident. What we want to happen here is to resolve this issue that came at hand unexpectedly.)

(Tuloy-tuloy pa rin yung gains na nakuha natin dito sa peace process. As our chief of staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. has said, let us give peace a chance.)

The Normalization Program is part of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which aims to transform former MILF combatants into peaceful and productive civilians and their areas into progressive and resilient communities.

On January 22, two soldiers and two lawless elements were killed in the encounter when two armed groups including alleged MILF members attacked the 32nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

MILF’s Peace Implementing Panel chairperson Mohagher Iqbal said the clash may have been caused by the lack of coordination between the two sides.

However, Brawner maintained that coordination was done with the MILF.

For Padilla, the clash was an isolated incident considering that no similar incidents have been reported in the past. She said the AFP hopes that such incidents will not happen again.

“Ito nga is being an isolated incident. But kung nakita ninyo for so many years wala nang ganitong insidente. Wala tayong major incidents na naitala. So ang hope natin hindi na nga ito maulit with both parties na mag-adhere sa lahat ng provisions being in the normalization process at this stage,” she said.

(This is an isolated incident. But if you noticed for so many years, there was no such incident. We have no major incidents recorded. So our hope is that this will not happen again with both parties adhering to all the provisions being in the normalization process at this stage.)

— RSJ, GMA Integrated News