Palace sad over MILF decommissioning delay, eyes deeper talks

The Philippine government will discuss thoroughly with concerned parties the decision of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to suspend the decommissioning of its remaining combatants and weapons. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a press briefing Friday that the information already reached President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

“Yes po medyo nakalulungkot po na balita ‘yan dahil alam naman po natin na ang gobyerno po ay talagang naglalaan ng pondo para sa magandang kinabukasan ng mga nagnanais na bumalik at magkaroon ng normal na buhay,” Castro said.

(Yes, that is sad news since we all know that the government allots funds to provide better future for those combatants who want to go back to their normal lives.) 

Castro mentioned the forms of aid given to MILF combatants, including the P100,000 cash assistance for each MILF combatant as well as other socio-economic programs.

“So siguro lamang po ay mas kinakailangan pa ng mas lalimang pag-uusap para mas maging maganda ang kahihinatnan nito para rin sa miyembro ng MILF,” she said. 

(Maybe we just need to have deeper talks to ensure better outcomes for the MILF.) 

Asked what will be the next course of action on this matter, Castro said, “Makikipagusap po nang mas masinsinan para po mas maging maganda ang resulta.” 

(We will have thorough discussions to attain better results.) 

To recall, the MILF had suspended the decommissioning process until the national government complies with the provisions of the Annex of Normalization, which is a component of the peace deal between the two parties in 2014. 

In a resolution by the central committee, the MILF stated that it would decommission ita remaining 14,000 forces and 2,450 weapons “only upon the substantial compliance by the government of the Philippines in other tracks of normalization, including the provision of socio-economic package as agreed by the GPH and the MILF peace implementing panels to the 26,145 combatants.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News