1. Home
    2.  
  2. In brief
  3. Armed conflicts, Political parties and trade-unions, Politics and institutions

In brief

Philippines: peace process, transition towards enlarged autonomy of Bangsamoro make progress

MILF guerrilla begins disarmament

 
Act of inauguration of the new Bangsamoro self-government, March 2019.
Act of inauguration of the new Bangsamoro self-government, March 2019. Author: Bangsamoro Government
In September, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) began handing over weapons —940 units— and demobilized 1,060 of nearly 40,000 combatants it claims to have as part of the peace process between the Mindanao guerrilla and the Philippine state. Combatants are set to receive economic and social assistance to reintegrate into civilian life. 225 guerrillas have been trained by the Philippine army to perform peacekeeping tasks. Others will join the Bangsamoro police.

The peace agreement signed in 2014 between the government and the MILF provides for the enlargement of the autonomy of the Bangsamoro, the Muslim-majority territory of Mindanao and several other islands in the southern Philippines. The deal is an important step towards ending a decades-long conflict, a Nationalia analysis reported in February. MILF originally advocated independence, but has ended up accepting an autonomy agreement.

The Bangsamoro Transitional Authority —headed by MILF’s Ahod Ebrahim— is currently the interim government of the territory until the end of the transition period in 2022, when the new Bangsamoro Parliament will be elected.