Gov’t, MILF sign agreement on May polls

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels agreed to strengthen the prevailing ceasefire and follow the election gun ban to safeguard the May 13 elections.

An agreement on the guidelines for ceasefire-related functions for the May 13 elections was signed on Monday by the heads of the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities of both the government and MILF panels in the presence of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

Brig. Gen. Cesar Sedillo for the government and Said Sheik for the MILF signed the memorandum for mutual understanding with Malaysian Maj. Gen. Dato Fadzil Bin Mokhtar for the IMT as witness during simple ceremonies at Waterfront Insular Hotel here.

The agreement also defined the roles of both parties during the May 13 elections.

The implementation of the guidelines will be in effect from Monday up to May 20.

Both panels also agreed that security forces deployed within MILF areas would be withdrawn immediately after the elections along with the election materials and personnel.