DAVAO CITY – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiating panels signed an agreement Tuesday creating the Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities.
A press release from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the new task force “is mandated to undertake all efforts related to socio-economic and development programs” and to assist the Panels identify and implement socio-economic priorities and development projects for decommissioned MILF combatants and their communities.”
OPAPP said the document is guided by the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) “as well as by the terms of reference of the Joint Normalization Committee.”
The OPAPP said the two panels “also agreed to renew the mandate of the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) as well as the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) for two years and nine months respectively.”
The new task force programs include the decommissioned women auxiliary forces of the MILF.
The OPAPP said that new task force is composed of three members each from both the GPH and the MILF panels.
The House of Representatives is now conducting sessions on the BBL but legislators say they cannot guarantee that it will be passed in June, despite the deadline set by Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
