In a symbolic ceremony of arms surrender, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Philippines president Benigno Aquino III yesterday re-committed themselves to a peace process in Mindanao despite obstacles that are endangering it since the beginning of 2015.

MILF, a guerrilla group that for for 50 years has been staging an armed rebellion against the Philippines for Bangsamoro self-determination, yesterday surrendered 75 assault weapons, and allowed the identification of 145 of its guerrillas, who will return to civilian life under the promise of receiving government support for their reintegration.

But MILF leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim warned yesterday that there will be no further arms surrender if the national legislature of the Philippines, the Congress, does not pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which should allow for enlarged autonomy for that Muslim-majority territory on the island of Mindanao (see map).

In 1987, a limited autonomy for Bangsamoro was established for the first time ever within the framework of the Philippine state. But the MILF and other armed groups considered it to be inadequate, and the conflict went on. MILF and the Philippine government signed in March 2014 a peace deal by which the guerrilla agreed to lay down weapons in exchange for broader Bangsamoro self-government, including exclusive powers over 58 areas and enlarged territory under Bangsamoro control.

Armed clash puts peace process at risk

Enlarged autonomy for Bangsamoro is pending the approval of the Basic Law in the Congress. But some lawmakers have been refusing to move forward with the law since a January 2015 armed clash between the special forces of the Philippine police and several armed groups, including the MILF, left more than 60 people dead in Mamasapano (Mindanao).

The police was seeking to capture two bomb making experts linked to Islamist group Jemaah Islamiyah. MILF members shot at the policemen as they entered the area.

MILF leaders later argued that nobody had warned them that the operation was only against Jemaah Islamiyah. The guerrilla argued that the clash was thus the result of a mistake, and insisted that MILF was committed to peace.

Although the incident was so severe, Aquino decided to uphold the government-MILF agreement. But a group of Philippine congressmen believe that the president and the government are taking a too soft stance vis a vis the armed group, and are calling for a thorough review of the peace process.

MILF announced last month that some of its members had killed Abdul Basit Usman, one of the two Jemaah Islamiyah-linked bomb makers. The guerrilla has also recently established a political party in order to stand for the first election of the new Bangsamoro Assembly -which should be held in 2016 as per the peace deal- and has announced it will become a humanitarian organization.

Further information:

• Follow-up on Nationalia: Philippine President struggling to save peace process in Mindanao, autonomy for Bangsamoro,  Philippines-MILF final deal on Bangsamoro autonomy signed and Philippine Government, MILF guerrilla shape Bangsamoro self-government