Gov't, MILF create normalization bodies

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government and the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) announced today the creation of different bodies that will oversee the peace process.

In a statement, the Philippine government and the MILF said they have agreed on the composition of the International Decommissioning Body (IDB), the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) , and the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) .

The IDB will take the lead in the gradual decommissioning of MILF forces and weapons. It will be composed of three foreign experts and four local experts nominated by the Philippine government and MILF.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the JNC will coordinate all components of the normalization process.

The Philippine government and the MILF have also agreed to invite Switzerland to provide an expert who would lead the TJRC. The commission was tasked to study and recommend mechanisms to address the grievances of the Bangsamoro people.

The composition of the normalization bodies was taken up during the recent meeting between the two parties in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The creation of these bodies was indicated in the final peace pact known as the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by the Philippine government and MILF on March 27 that both sides said would put an end to the decades-old conflict in Mindanao in southern Philippines.