A plebiscite ratified the Bangsamoro Basic Law on January 21, 2019.[1] The law obligated the national and regional governments to establish programs to rehabilitate MILF and MNLF fighters.[2]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XVI, Section 1.
A plebiscite ratified the Bangsamoro Basic Law on January 21, 2019.[1] The law obligated the national and regional governments to establish programs to rehabilitate MILF and MNLF fighters.[2]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XVI, Section 1.
The BBL was signed into law by President Duterte on July 26, 2018.[1] The law obligated the National and Regional governments to establish programs to rehabilitate MILF and MNLF fighters.[2]
[1] “President signs Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Country Reports, July 30, 2018.
[2] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XVI, Section 1.
No developments observed this year.
On April 28, 2016, MILF members decommissioned in 2015 graduated from a government training program, which was operated by the government Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. The program included courses to prepare former combatants for civilian life, including “bread and pastry production, driving, carpentry, cookery, small engine repair, dressmaking/tailoring, automotive servicing, electrical installation and maintenance, welding, and entrepreneurship.”[1]
[1] “Former Philippine rebels swap guns for spanners,” Gulf News, April 28, 2016.
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro stipulate action to facilitate the transition of MILF forces to civilian life. In August 2014, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of the Philippines allotted 355 million pesos in their budget to provide free training in technical and vocational courses for ex-combatants.[1]
[1] “Tesda allots P335 million to train ex-MILF fighters,” Business Mirror, August 17, 2014.
Following the Bangsamoro Basic Law of January 2019, the police force in Bangsamoro was reorganized in September 2019. However, the law requires the establishment of a regional police force composed of MILF and MNLF fighters. Further, the signatories agreed to establish 11 Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) barracks and create 200 Joint Peace and Security Teams comprising the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippines National Police (PNP), and the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF). The JPST will be the 6,000-strong force composed of 3,000 BIAF-MILF members and 3,000 government troops, of which 1,600 will be police and 1,400 soldiers.[1] As of 2021, 20 JPST teams are trained, of which only 14 teams have been deployed. The 30-personnel JPST is composed of 15 members from the AFP and PNP for the GPH side and 15 members from the BIAF-MILF side.[2]
[1] “Iqbal: Only 400 out of supposed 6,000-strong Bangsamoro joint peace security team trained,” Minda News, November 7, 2021.
[2] “Seventh Public Report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, January 2022.
A plebiscite ratified the Bangsamoro Basic Law on January 21, 2019.[1] In accordance with the law, the police force in Bangsamoro was reorganized in September.[2] The law required the establishment of a regional police force and waived certain eligibility requirements for joining the police force for MILF and MNLF fighters.[3]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Napolcom approves reorganization, renaming of PRO ARMM to PRO BAR,” Manila Bulletin, September 24, 2019.
[3] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XI, Section 2.
A plebiscite ratified the Bangsamoro Basic Law on January 21, 2019.[1] In accordance with the law, the police force in Bangsamoro was reorganized in September.[2] The law required the establishment of a regional police force and waived certain eligibility requirements for joining the police force for MILF and MNLF fighters.[3]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Napolcom approves reorganization, renaming of PRO ARMM to PRO BAR,” Manila Bulletin, September 24, 2019.
[3] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XI, Section 2.