July 6, 2012: The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) cited the assistance of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and International Monitoring Team (IMT) being extended for the holding of the Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly July 6-9, 2012 at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Von Al Haq, the Spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and concurrently designated as the spokesperson for the Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly, conveyed the profound gratitude and commendation of the MILF leadership to the government and IMT when interviewed by Luwaran yesterday.

“The cooperation and assistance of the government and the IMT is superb and highly commendable. For the past days, we have seen the best assistance from the GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), MGen Datuk Abdul Rahim bin Mohd Yusuff and BGen Dato’ Zulkaple, IMT Head of Mission and IMT Deputy Head of Mission, respectively, and Col Ismaon of IMT Brunei,” Al Haq said.

Yesterday, the Government and MILF CCCHs, IMT and GPH – MILF Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) facilitated the movements of thousands of participants from all over Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces to Camp Darapanan.

High officials of the IMT, MILF Commanders, GPH CCCH and AHJAG, Philippine Army, MILF CCCH, Philippine National Police, and the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC) escorted the long convoys of participants and others even acted as “traffic officers” in order to allow smooth passage of the participants en route to Darapanan.

MinHRAC, a member of the civilian protection component of IMT, was requested by the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel to provide legal and coordination assistance for the Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly.

Said Shiek, Chairman MILF CCCH, also commended his counterpart with GPH CCCH headed by BGen Gilberto Roa, Army Division Commander MGen Rey Ardo, the PNP ARMM Director, Police Col Nantes, Col. Santos, Col. Nagrampa and Lt Col Abrenza of the 603rd Brigade Command.

The IMT  and Sultan Kudarat Mayor Datu Tocao Mastura CPA, host mayor, had been facilitating and presiding over the continuing coordination meeting between the GPH – MILF CCCH, AHJAG and IMT Meetings held at IMT Headquarters IMT, Team Sites 1 Office of the IMT Brunei, and Sultan Kudarat Municpal Hall.

Today, participants from Saranggani and Sultan Kudarat Provinces, Zamboanga Peninsula, Tawi-Taw- and Basilan will start their travel going to Darapanan. Big number of participants from Sulu had already started their travel by sea using local ships and boat from Jolo Port to Polloc Port in Maguindanao. Participants coming from Manila had also started their travel going to Darapanan.    

At least half a million of people from all over Mindanao and Manila are expected to participate in this Bangsamoro Leader’s Assembly, which is a major part of the continuing advocacy, dialogues and consultations being conducted by the MILF to strengthen unity, solidarity and cooperation among the Bangsamoro people and their leaders towards the attainment of their noble objectives and aspirations for self-determination, especially now that the current GPH-MILF peace negotiation is passing through a crucial stage.