InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Front (MILF) shall undertake a "graduated program" to disarm its armed members, according to the framework peace agreement that it is scheduled to sign with the government on Oct. 15.
Based on the draft accord, the decommissioning aims to "put beyond use" the armed wing of the MILF.
Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the government prefers to use the term normalization to DDR or disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.
Deles said the decommissioning will be implemented until 2016.
In anticipation of the decommissioning of the MILF troops, the framework agreement also provides for the transfer of all law enforcement functions from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to the police force in a phased and gradual manner.
The armed conflict in Mindanao has been raging for the past 40 years, with government and MILF peace negotiations running for the past 15 years.
A landmark Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) was set to be signed in 2009, but it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Protests from the Muslim rebels then deteriorated into a full-blown resumption of hostilities, breaking a ceasefire that had been in place for many years.
The Aquino administration pursued peace negotiations with formerly secessionist rebels, who have since recognized that they are part of the Philippines, as the Philippine government recognized the Bangsamoro's history in fighting for their people's right to self-determination.
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