MILF suspends decommissioning over lack of support, government denies

The chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has suspended members' participation in decommissioning activities, accusing the government of failing to provide support for reintegration.

David Diciano from OPAPRU's Office for Bangsamoro Transformation refuted these claims on Monday, August 18, stating that P4 billion had been allocated since 2019 for the decommissioning process.

Records show that 26,145 MILF combatants have received P100,000 in cash assistance along with skills and livelihood training to aid their reintegration into society.

Ahod Ebrahim's directive on Saturday, August 16, came as part of the fourth phase of decommissioning under the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro.

The agreement, resulting from two decades of peace talks, led to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in early 2019.

Provincial governors and mayors have urged Ebrahim to engage in peaceful dialogue with OPAPRU officials to address concerns about government support for decommissioning.

Members of the BARMM parliament are volunteering to verify MILF complaints regarding the government's commitment to facilitating the decommissioning process.