Peace Parties Agree To Renew Joint Action Group Mandate Until March 2017

The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed to renew the mandate of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group until 31 March 2017 to ensure the longstanding ceasefire between both parties.

“This mechanism has proven time and again its importance in isolating and interdicting criminal syndicates/kidnap-for-ransom groups and terrorist groups operating in Mindanao,” GPH and MILF said in a joint statement issued Thursday.

Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma meanwhile said that the renewal of the joint action group “fortifies the peace infrastructure as these bodies (GPH and MILF) have been instrumental in bringing about salutary results in peace-keeping as well as in sustained campaigns against criminal and terror elements.”

Coloma said the continuation of other normalization programs on transitional justice and reconciliation, camps transformation and provision of socio-economic packages serve to strengthen confidence on the sustainability of the Bangsamoro peace process.

The GPH and MILF Peace Panels concluded a two-day Special Meeting on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia wherein they expressed disappointment over the non-passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process. (PRC-PIA)