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Palace hopes to resolve delay in MILF decommissioning

Philippine News Agency

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
August 1, 2025, 3:59 pm

MANILA -- Malacañang on Friday cited the need to hold deeper talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in the wake of the suspension of the final phase of decommissioning of combatants and firearms.

"Medyo nakakalungkot po na balita iyan, dahil alam naman po natin na ang gobyerno po ay talagang naglalaan ng pondo para sa magandang kinabukasan ng mga nagnanais na bumalik at magkaroon ng normal na buhay (That's a bit of sad news, because we know that the government is really allocating funds for the bright future of those who want to return and have a normal life)," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

"So, siguro lamang po ay mas kinakailangan pa ng mas malalim ang pag-uusap para mas maging maganda ang kahihinatnan nito para rin sa miyembro po ng MILF (So, maybe a deeper conversation is needed so that the outcome will be better for MILF members as well)."

Castro said the Palace is optimistic of a better result of the upcoming negotiations with the MILF.

She hoped that the issues would be resolved, citing the government's willingness to work with the MILF and provide assistance to decommissioned combatants.

"Katulad po nung sinasabi na PHP100,000 cash assistance po sa bawat combatant, MILF combatant, mayroon din pong nakalaan at inilaan na more than PHP400 billion worth for the socio-economic programs. Hindi lang po iyan, marami pa po at alam naman po natin iyan (Apart from the PHP100,000 cash assistance for every MILF combatant, there is also more than PHP400 billion worth allocated for the socio-economic programs. That's not all, there's a lot more and we know that)," Castro said.

The MILF Central Committee has issued a resolution suspending the decommissioning of its remaining 14,000 combatants and 2,450 weapons because of the Philippine government's alleged failure to meet key provisions of the 2014 peace agreement.

The MILF said the decommissioning will only proceed once the government shows "substantial compliance" with the normalization commitments, especially the delivery of socio-economic support for the 26,145 decommissioned combatants.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Thursday expressed disappointment over the deferral of the decommissioning process, calling it a setback for the Bangsamoro peace process. (PNA)