Government, MILF declare ceasefire in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — A ceasefire agreement was signed by the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Basilan on Thursday, ending two days of hostilities in Ungkaya Pukan town.

The military said five MILF members and three soldiers were killed while 15 other government troopers were wounded in clashes between personnel of the 101st Infantry Brigade (IB) and members of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) 114 Base Command on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The joint government and MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and Non-Violent Peace Force facilitated the signing of the truce agreement.

Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat of the CCCH, Col. Frederick Sales of AHJAG, 18th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Cyril Santander, Joint Task Force Basilan and 101st IB commander Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway and Western Mindanao Command acting chief Brig. Gen. Antonio Rojas signed the ceasefire agreement in behalf of the government.

The signatories for the MILF side are CCCH chairman Butch Malang, AHJAG chairman Anwar Alamada, CCCH support staff Hadji Ahaddin and BIAF-MILF officer-in-charge Malik Caril.

David Diciano, head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Reconciliation and Unity-Bangsamoro Transformation Program, arrived in Basilan on Wednesday to meet with his MILF counterpart and officials from both forces.

“We are happy to announce that a ceasefire agreement has been signed... which brings to an end the armed encounter between government troops and MILF forces,” he said.

The ceasefire also called for the pullout of MILF reinforcements who are not residents of Barangay Ulitan.

It allows the return of the group of Huram Malangka of the BIAF 114 Base Command, who are residents in the area, provided they keep their firearms in their respective houses for decommissioning.

BIAF members who are residents of the barangay should be identified and registered, the truce agreement also stated.

Diciano said a detachment of military, police and BIAF personnel would be established to address lawless elements and maintain security in the village.

Local government officials gave assurance that they would help monitor the ceasefire agreement to prevent hostilities from erupting again.

More than 4,000 families have been displaced in the gunfights in Barangay Ulitan. – John Unson