MILF urged to adhere to ceasefire agreement

DAVAO CITY , Philippines   â€“ The military adviser to the government negotiating panel has asked members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to follow the rule of law and strictly adhere to the ceasefire agreement.

Maj. Gen. Leo Ferrer said he is concerned about reports that MILF members were involved in kidnapping 12 people in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte last Dec. 5. 

“We ask the MILF leadership to rein in their forces in the spirit of the positive strides of the peace process both sides [government and MILF] have steadfastly worked on for so many years,” he said.

“A fruitful conclusion would benefit not just the Bangsamoro people but the rest of the people in Mindanao.”  

Eight civilians were released Friday night, a military report said.

Ferrer said prospects are now brighter than ever for the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.

“With the peace talks in the end stage, let us not allow any untoward incidents, isolated they may be, to obstruct the momentum gained so far by the peace process,” he said.

MILF fighters under Abdul Macalunto of the 102nd Base Command seized the 12 civilians in Balo-i town as part of their alleged anti-drug and anti-gambling campaigns, the report added.

The report came out as the government and MILF peace panels are in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 42nd exploratory talks.

As of Saturday, the government and the MILF peace panels remained locked in negotiations on the two remaining annexes (power sharing and normalization) of the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro.

A Bangsamoro government would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2016.

Earlier this year, the two sides signed the annexes on transitional arrangement and modalities, and revenue generation and wealth sharing.