NEWS
17March
MILF declares "temporary pause" in peace process engagement with national government
- Mar 17, 2026
- Taher G. Solaiman
- HITS: 1511
In an official statement signed by MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, the Front expressed regret that the peace process currently lacks an "empowered and functioning" counterpart from the Government of the Philippines (GPH).
The impasse stems from the recent resignation of Ret. Gen. Cesar B. Yano as Chairman of the GPH Peace Implementing Panel, which the MILF said has left a "gap[ing] hole" at a critical stage of the transition period.
"The MILF finds itself unable to proceed with substantive engagements that require formal commitments and authoritative decisions," the statement read.
"The MILF Peace Implementing Panel cannot negotiate and engage with a headless counterpart," the statement added.
The Front emphasized that the peace framework established under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was built on "jointness" and "mutuality," requiring officially mandated representatives from both parties to operate effectively.
The MILF also raised concerns over a perceived shift in the government's approach, noting indications that the GPH may be moving toward "mainstreaming" the peace process within broader government structures. The statement highlighted the increasing visibility of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP).
While recognizing the value of institutional support from these offices, the MILF stressed that formal Peace Implementing Panels must remain "central to the conduct of official engagements and decision-making."
Despite the suspension of high-level panel work, the MILF clarified that its security mechanisms will remain active to prevent conflict escalation. The Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) will continue addressing "any infraction of tranquility on the ground."
The Front will also maintain engagement with local and international "friends of the peace process" on matters not requiring bilateral GPH action.
The MILF called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to promptly appoint a "duly mandated" GPH Panel Chair, stating that the move is essential to restore "clarity, certainty, and renewed momentum" to CAB implementation.
The development comes as the Bangsamoro region prepares for its first regular parliamentary elections, recently rescheduled by Congress to September 2026.
Write to Taher Guiambangan Solaiman
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