Disarmament: Comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro
Implementations
Disarmament – 2014
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Annex on Normalization included in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro address the reduction and control of weapons. On May 6, 2014, the government and MILF announced the creation of the International Decommissioning Body, which is charged with decommissioning MILF forces and weapons, and is composed of three foreign and four local experts nominated by the Philippine government and the MILF. [1] In September, the government, MILF, and foreign experts of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) met to discuss the initiation of the disarmament process.[2] The IDB began taking inventory of firearms and scheduled a symbolic weapons turnover in January 2015 to begin the disarmament process. At the initial turnover, the MILF had to surrender 75 functional firearms.[3]
[1] “Philippine gov’t, MILF create normalization bodies,” Xinhua General News Service, May 6, 2014.
[2] “Philippines, MILF meet to start disarmament process,” Anadolu Agency, September 28, 2014.
[3] “Philippines peace process decommissioning set for January,” Anadolu Agency, December 3, 2014.
Disarmament – 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 55 high-powered weapons and 20 crew-served weapons to the IDB.[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 Worldwide Monitoring, June 16, 2015.
Disarmament – 2016
No developments observed this year.
Disarmament – 2017
No disarmament was observed this year. The fact that the MILF conducted ongoing military operations against other militant groups in the region indicates that much of MILF forces remained armed throughout 2017.[1]
[1] “Philippines troops, rebels team up against Marawi militants,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, September 7, 2017.
Disarmament – 2018
No additional developments observed this year.
Disarmament – 2019
Phase two of the demobilization process included the disarmament of demobilized MILF fighters. On September 7th, 2019, one thousand MILF fighters were demobilized and disarmed.[1]
[1] “Handing over weapons: M.I.L.F combatants commit to peace in the Bangsamoro,” Norwegian Refugee Council, October 7, 2019, https://www.nrc.no/expert-deployment/2016/2019/handing-over-weapons/
Disarmament – 2020
Limited disarmament of former MILF combatants continued in 2020. On February 18th, the Bangsamoro government reported that 106 MILF combatants went through decommissioning by the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).[1]
[1] “Phase II of MILF-BIAF decommissioning resumed,” February 19, 2020, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Bureau of Public Information, https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/latest-news/phase-ii-of-milf-biaf-decommissioning-resumed/
Disarmament – 2021
Limited disarmament of former MILF combatants continued in 2021. After 75 weapons were collected from 145 combatants who participated in the first round of the decommissioning process, 2,100 weapons were collected from 12,000 combatants in the second round, completed in March 2020. The Independent Decommissioning Body started the third round of the decommissioning process in November 2021 with the target of decommissioning 14,000 combatants. Still, the number of weapons to be collected from these combatants is not available. [1]
[1] “Seventh Public Report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, January 2022; “Decommissioning process delayed by 21,000 MILF combatants – Galvez,” Rappler, September 15, 2021. https://www.rappler.com/nation/carlito-galvez-jr-says-decommissioning-delayed-by-thousands-milf-combatants/