The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has agreed to restrict its fighters from carrying firearms outside their camps and forming groups in public to prevent clashes with government forces ahead of the May 12 elections, a Rappler report posted online said on May 5. 

The agreement signed on Saturday, May 3 at the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Kampo Ranao, Marawi City between Colonel Joel Mamon, chair of the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad-Hoc Joint Action Group, and Janati Mimbantas, MILF Northeastern Mindanao Front commander and a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, who represented the MILF.

Under the agreement, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the MILF would limit its movement and visibility during the remainder of the election period.

Mamon said the MILF committed not to obstruct convoys carrying election paraphernalia, ballot boxes, Comelec staff, and teachers accompanied by the military or police.

“MILF forces are prohibited from displaying their firearms and consolidating their units when the Army and policemen escort Comelec personnel and teachers in and out of communities or MILF bases,” Mamon said.

He said only Camp Bushra in Butig, Lanao del Sur, and Camp Darapanan in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte – the group’s main Eastern Mindanao and administrative camps, respectively – are exempted from the restrictions.

Any violation, he said, would be treated as a ceasefire breach.

“We also aspire for honest elections. We have fought and sacrificed enough for us to break the guidelines,” Mimbantas said.

“The MILF’s ceasefire monitors would notify field units in advance about Army- or police-escorted convoys entering their communities on election day”, Mimbantas said.