MILF chief to visit Camp Aguinaldo today

MANILA, Philippines — Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Al Hajj Murad will visit Camp Aguinaldo today to meet with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr.

Last month, Galvez also visited the main camp of the Muslim secessionist group in Mindanao where he declared that “the war between the military and the MILF is finally over.” 

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said this is the first time that an MILF leader will set foot on the military headquarters in Quezon City. 

“We are pleased that this is happening at this time that our economy is picking up and the people want to have a lasting peace,” Arevalo told reporters yesterday.

 Murad’s visit to the AFP headquarters speaks well of the degree of confidence, sincerity and trust that both the military and the MILF have for each other, Arevalo said. 

“If only the CPP-NPA can show the same sincerity to the peace talks that the MILF says and does, we could have a lasting peace to bequeath to the future generation of Filipinos,” he said, referring to the communist groups tagged by the government as terrorists. 

Arevalo said Murad and Galvez are expected to discuss areas of collaboration that the AFP and MILF can embark on apart from combat, intelligence and civil-military operations.