Former peace negotiators warn of MILF factions as BARMM tensions rise

Former authorities peace negotiators led by Miriam Coronel-Ferrer voice concern that occasions within the BARMM might ‘spiral into an uncontrollable scenario’

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Former authorities peace negotiators on Sunday, September 7, warned of a looming disaster within the Bangsamoro area, citing a harmful cut up inside the Moro Islamic Liberation Entrance (MILF) that they mentioned might unravel years of hard-won peace

In an announcement signed by former authorities peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and members Senen Bacani, Zenonida Brosas, Anna Tarhata-Basman, and Yasmin Busran-Lao, the group voiced “profound concern” that occasions within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Area in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) might “spiral into an uncontrollable scenario.”

“We simply felt we needed to communicate as much as stop a full-blown worsening of the scenario within the BARMM,” Ferrer mentioned.

The previous peace negotiators burdened the problem was not mere election-related rigidity forward of the October 13 parliamentary polls, however the fragmentation of the MILF’s management. They mentioned unity inside the MILF was important throughout peace talks, guaranteeing its forces remained dedicated to the method, however divisions might result in radicalization, criminality, and the breakdown of the peace deal.

They warned that “exterior actors” have been deepening the rift by backing rival factions, and urged the federal government to “assist unite, and never divide, its peace associate.” They known as on MILF leaders to keep away from additional weakening the group and pressed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take decisive motion.

Failure to behave, they mentioned, might derail the transition to a brand new Bangsamoro Parliament and threaten the decommissioning of MILF fighters beneath the 2014 Complete Settlement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The warning got here a day after an enormous gathering of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) members at Cotabato Metropolis’s Grand Mosque in a rally declaring loyalty to MILF-BIAF Chief of Workers and BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua and his predecessor within the regional authorities, MILF Chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim. The BIAF is the MILF’s armed wing.

Macacua spoke in regards to the MILF “unity,” which he mentioned, strengthened respect for the chain of command and bolstered the Bangsamoro’s pursuit of peace, self-governance, and stability. The BIAF pledged help for peaceable and orderly elections this October.

However the rally additionally uncovered discontent, after practically 10 senior MILF commanders have been suspended for allegedly disobeying orders from Ebrahim. Macacua mentioned the suspensions stemmed from their attendance at a Manila occasion he organized, which the MILF central committee mistakenly handled, supposedly, as an unauthorized exercise.

He mentioned Ebrahim later texted him that if he had licensed their presence, the suspension could possibly be lifted.

The MILF central committee, nonetheless, clarified it had not been knowledgeable of the rally, initially billed as a voters’ training marketing campaign.

“As Commander-in-Chief and the very best official of the MILF, I’ll help any coordinated exercise involving our navy to make sure a peaceable, sincere, and orderly 2025 Parliamentary Election,” Ebrahim mentioned.

MILF Vice Chairman Mohagher Iqbal confirmed the suspensions, saying they have been ordered by Ebrahim on September 1 beneath Memorandum Order No. 037, citing a “severe breach of management guidelines and organizational self-discipline.” 

The obvious disconnect between Ebrahim, Iqbal, and Macacua has fueled hypothesis of a rift, however MILF spokesperson Mohajirin Ali insisted communication remained “clean and steady.” He mentioned Macacua’s absence from a current celebration rally was attributable to a separate occasion in Manila.

Ali burdened that the highest leaders’ camaraderie, cast over a long time of armed battle, outweighed any variations.

In August, Iqbal accused the Workplace of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) of engineering a “regime change” by changing Ebrahim with Macacua as interim chief minister with out consulting the MILF central committee.

He additionally mentioned the federal government’s determination to nominate solely 35 of the 41 MILF nominees to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority violated the peace settlement and the Bangsamoro Natural Legislation.

“It is a basic divide-and-rule tactic, a counter-insurgency transfer designed to destroy the MILF,” Iqbal mentioned. He added he doubted Marcos had been “totally briefed and effectively knowledgeable in regards to the gravity of the scenario within the BARMM.” – Rappler.com