Gov’t to spend P2.6 B on normalization under BBL

MANILA, Philippines - The government is setting aside some P2.6 billion for the disbanding of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the disarming of its guerrillas and other armed entities in accordance with agreements with the rebel group as part of preparations for the creation of a new autonomous region in Mindanao.

Documents from the House of Representatives showed allocation of P2.6 billion in “Normalization Fund” and P1 billion in “Transition Fund” for this year on the assumption that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would be approved in Congress before June.

The two funding allocations were listed only for this year when the normalization as well as the disarming of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces and private armed groups shall have taken effect.

There were no details on how the funding would be disbursed, and it was not yet clear whether the delays in the BBL deliberations in the House and the Senate would have an impact on the normalization process as stipulated in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in Manila in October 2012.

The BBL was supposed to be approved by Congress and signed into law this month, but the Senate and the House suspended deliberations on the draft law in the aftermath of the Mamasapano bloodbath where 44 police commandos were killed during an operation to arrest two international terrorists last Jan. 25.

The members of the Special Action Force (SAF) encountered an undetermined number rebels from the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters during the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

It is estimated that the MILF has at least 11,000 fighters armed with small and high-powered firearms as well as crew-served weapons.

Following the Mamasapano incident, authorities reported the existence of a weapons factories in MILF-controlled areas in Mindanao capable of producing high-powered weapons, including .50 caliber sniper rifles reportedly used against SAF commandos.

Four days after the carnage, the government and the MILF signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia a protocol implementing the decommissioning of MILF arms and forces and reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process.

The protocol includes an inventory of MILF arms and BIAF personnel; the putting up of the International Decommissioning Body (IDB) verification of the inventory; and procedures for destroying MILF weapons.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the normalization process would enable communities affected by the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao to return to normal life.

“It involves the transition of the MILF’s BIAF to peaceful civilian life, which includes putting their weapons beyond use. It also involves the redress of unresolved legitimate grievances and the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas,” the OPAPP said.

The OPAPP said the process of normalization has three main components, namely: the security aspect, socio-economic development and transitional justice.

The security aspect of normalization includes policing, decommissioning of MILF forces and weapons, redeployment of the Armed Forces from or within the conflict-affected areas and the disbandment of private armed groups.

The security aspect of normalization will take into account the needs of the communities involved, it said.

Socio-economic development programs will be undertaken for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the Bangsamoro. In particular, socio-economic programs will be instituted to address the needs of BIAF members, internally displaced persons and poverty-stricken communities, the OPAPP said.

Lawmakers opposing the BBL earlier warned the normalization agreement was weak and dangerous, as the full disarmament of the MILF would depend on the fulfillment of the commitments of both parties.

Magdalo party-list Rep. Ashley Acedillo earlier said it would be easy for the MILF to claim that the government has failed to deliver on its pledges to justify not letting go of its weapons.

He warned the country would go into a plebiscite on the BBL and national elections next year with the MILF still holding most of its firearms and heavy weapons.

“We all know that armed groups use force in elections. What does that say about our democracy? The MILF can easily accuse the government of not complying with the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro) to justify not turning over their weapons,” he said.

Open to improvements

Meanwhile, OPAPP chief Teresita Deles said the executive recognize the powers of Congress to decide on the BBL – including making changes to improve it – and are not railroading the passage of the measure.

“As I have always been saying, the fate of the passage of the proposed BBL is in the hands of our lawmakers. The proposed Bangsamoro law was submitted to them in recognition of their legislative power,” Deles said.

“They have the power to improve and strengthen the BBL in accordance with the Constitution that provides for the grant of meaningful autonomy to Muslim Mindanao,” she added.

Deles had voiced their openness to seeing changes in the BBL way back in September 2014 during the first public hearing on the draft law by the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez

“Certainly, we are open to the fact that the law can be improved,” she told lawmakers then.

Deles and the members of the government peace panel reiterated in various forums and media briefings that they were leaving it up to lawmakers to decide on the BBL.

She said the executive branch trusts Congress’ judgment to pass the measure at the right time, preferably during the term of the Aquino administration, which ends in June next year.

“There is 17 years’ worth of diligent negotiations, from the time of President Ramos to the present, that birthed the BBL,” Deles said.

“The draft law was founded on the work of previous negotiating teams that came before us over the years,” government chief peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said. With Jose Rodel Clapano