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Demobilization – 2015

On January 29, the MILF and Philippine Government finalized and signed the Protocol on the Implementation of the Terms of Reference of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).^[1] In addition to delineating the specific decommissioning and verification tasks to be undertaken by the IDB, the Protocol outlined a four-phase process in which, by the end of phase four, all MILF weapons, arms, and combatants would be decommissioned.^[2]

On June 16, the first phase of the decommissioning of MILF weapons and combatants began in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The MILF turned over 145 members of the MILF’s armed wing—the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BILF)—who will return to civilian life.^[3]

^[1] “Philippines government, rebel group sign pact to decommission firearms,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, January 31, 2015.

^[2] Protocol on the Implementation of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB). January 25, 2015.

^[3] “Philippine rebels begin process of giving up arms,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, June 16, 2015.