MILF communities in Region IX react on the RPOC- IX Resolution

• Dec 12, 2017
• Rhaff Jaafar, Luwaran
• HITS: 2329

ZAMBOANGA City – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Zamboanga City reacted on the issuance of Resolution No. 06-2017 by the Regional Peace and Order Council IX, declaring that there is no presence of MILF, and MNLF communities in Region IX.

The resolution said that: “Regional Peace and Order Council of Region IX issued Resolution Order No. 06-2017 declaring that there is no presence of MILF, and MNLF communities in Region IX”.

The resolution was prepared by RPOC-IX Secretariat/Assistant Regional Director of the DILG-IX  Mr Pedro Cuevas, Jr. CESO IV, and attested by Mayor Maria Isabelle G. Climaco of Zamboanga City. It was adopted on June 7, 2017.

The liaison officer of the MILF Information Committee for Western Mindanao who requested anonymity said that the encounters between members of the Moro Front, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Basilan is a proof that the MILF has members in the area.

He added that the presence of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) led by the Malaysian Royal Army in Western Mindanao Command, Zamboanga City (WestMinCom) is also an evidence that there are Moros in the City.

“The IMT area of coverage are the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del sur, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Palawan”, he said.

The IMT is mandated to observe and monitor the implementation of ceasefire agreement between the GPH, and MILF.

He said that “IMT conducts field verifications to validate reported violations of the ceasefire agreement by GPH or the MILF.” 

Acting Provincial Chairman of Zamboanga Province said that before he joined the MILF, he was a member of MNLF under the Chairmanship of Prof. Nur Misuari. 

“I have been as organic member of the MILF for the past 13 years, residing in the Zamboanga City proper. It is a proof that there are MILF communities in the region.”

He added that the MILF in Zamboanga Province are divided into three (3) districts, and all districts have political set up from provincial/city committees, and barangay committees. 

He also said that, “He, and other MILF Political Committee members of the three (3) districts have attended the Bangsamoro Assembly in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao to show full, and strong support for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law drafted by the New Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).” 

“Our participation, nay presence in the said assembly showed that there are members of the MILF in Region IX particularly in Zamboanga City,” an MILF PolCom member said.

The Western Front Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the MILF is located within Region IX, and there are Base Commands in the island of Basilan and Sulu recognized by the IMT.

The Zamboanga Peninsula is an administrative region in the Philippines officially called Region IX. The cities composing Region IX are Dapitan, Dipolog, Basilan, Pagadian, and Zambonaga City located in the three provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanaga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. 

On December 10, an Interfaith Peace Assembly was held at Pagadian City. It was organized by different CSOs and in partnership of MILF Political Committee of Zamboanga del Sur of the Bangsamoro to support the passages of the BBL drafted by the New BTC.

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