AFP, MILF to conduct joint counterterror ops

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines is looking forward to conducting joint anti-terror operations with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) units against lawless groups in Mindanao once the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) becomes fully functional.

AFP chief Gen. Carlito Galvez said the passage of the BBL will provide the military and the MILF more areas of cooperation and coordination against terror threats that are now a concern.

“As I said BBL is the antidote of terrorism (in Mindanao). Once it is signed into law by the President, the AFP will have the so-called cooperative engagements with the MILF,” Galvez said.

But while things are still being ironed out for full enforcement of BBL, a senior military official who asked not be named said that the AFP’s operations against all threat and lawless groups in Mindanao will be sustained.

He added that the anti-terror operations will also continue without letup even if BBL is already fully functional, saying that the threat of terrorism is not only the concern of the military nor the MILF but also the entire Filipino people, especially residents of Mindanao.

A military official added that alignment with the anti-terror campaign of the United States and other allied countries will likewise be strengthened with military exercises like the annual Philippine-US Balikatan exercises.

He said that while the BBL is being ironed out, sharing of intelligence information with the MILF will be reinforced through dialogue among AFP and Moro field commanders.

The official said that there will be no reduction of troops in Mindanao, citing the Islamic State (IS) threat is real and must be dealt with.

“I don’t see any change of the units nor the reduction of troops engaged in the anti-terror efforts of the national government in Mindanao,” he said.

The bicameral conference (bicam) that would reconcile the divergent versions of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the proposed BBL will be held next month.

“We have agreed with our Senate counterparts that we will have the bicam committee meetings on the BBL on Monday to Friday, July 9-13, 2018,” House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said yesterday.

He said some of the meetings would be held at the Senate, while others could be conducted in the House.

The agreed date is two weeks before Congress opens its third and last regular session on July 23. That’s also when President Duterte delivers his third State of the Nation Address. – With Jess Diaz, Marvin Sy