The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Govt., MNLF agree on new joint peace committee
Committee. Both sides agreed to submit the new composition of their implementing committees which shall be composed of seven members each as follows: Chairperson,vice chairperson (who shall come from the four subcommittee chairpersons), four chairpersons of the subcommittees as members, and two alternate members who shall also serve as members of technical working groups, which shall be created based on need.
"The implementing committee shall have subcommittees to tackle specific concerns on security, socio-economic, confidence building measures, and transitional justice," the resolution reads.
The implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreements is one of the five-point Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Agenda of the Marcos administration. The reconstitution is needed to strengthen the collaboration of the government and the MNLF, especially in implementing remaining commitments on the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund and Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee, as well as a transformation program for MNLF combatants, their families and communities.
The Transformation Program is anchored on Article 20a of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement which states that “there shall be a special socio-economic, cultural and educational program to cater to MNLF forces not absorbed into the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), PNP (Philippine National Police), and the SRSF (Special Regional Security Forces) to prepare them for productive endeavors, provide for educational, technical skills and livelihood training and give them priority for hiring in developmental projects.”
The creation of the Peace Coordinating Committee for the government side was created through a Memorandum from the Executive Secretary issued in November 2019 under the Duterte administration.
Ustadz Abdulkarim Tan Misuari, Vice-chairman of the MNLF Central Committee and currently the Deputy Speaker of the Bangsamoro Parliament, said: “The MNLF is one of the champions of peace. We will do our part to sanctify our agreements.”
Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Randolph Parcasio, quoting MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari, said the MNLF believes that "time will come when firearms will not be daily activity and a culture – when carrying firearms will be considered a shame."
The MNLF thanked the Marcos administration for its steadfast commitment to the Bangsamoro peace agreements.
The Bangsamoro peace process in Mindanao started during the time of the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., when he forged the 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement with the MNLF.
The pact became the basis of the succeeding peace agreements in the Bangsamoro such as the 1996 peace agreement and the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro signed in 2014 between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Just recently, the MNLF and the MILF commemorated “The Great Bangsamoro National Unity and Solidarity Day,” according to Misuari.
In a Facebook post, Misuari wrote: “On September 11, 2022, the leaders of the two Moro revolutionary groups, MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari and MILF Chairman and BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ibrahim, met for the first time in decades to