Paramilitary Groups: Comprehensive agreement on the Bangsamoro
Implementations
Paramilitary Groups – 2014
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro called for the disbandment of paramilitary groups.
No developments observed this year.
Paramilitary Groups – 2015
No developments observed this year.
Paramilitary Groups – 2016
No developments observed this year.
Paramilitary Groups – 2017
No developments observed this year.
Paramilitary Groups – 2018
The BBL was signed into law by President Duterte on July 26, 2018.[1] The law included some language regarding the disbandment of the paramilitary groups. The law waived certain eligibility requirements for joining the police force for MILF and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters.[2] In addition, it obligated the National and Regional governments to establish programs to rehabilitate MILF and MNLF fighters.[3]
[1] “President signs Bangsamoro Organic Law,” Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Country Reports, July 30, 2018.
[2] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XI, Section 2.
[3] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XVI, Section 1.
Paramilitary Groups – 2019
A plebiscite ratified the Bangsamoro Basic Law on January 21, 20191.[1] The law included some language regarding the disbandment of the paramilitary groups. The law waived certain eligibility requirements for joining the police force for MILF and MNLF fighters.[2] Additionally, it obligated the national and regional governments to establish programs to rehabilitate MILF and MNLF fighters.[3]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XI, Section 2.
[3] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XVI, Section 1.
Paramilitary Groups – 2020
A plebiscite ratified the Bangsamoro Basic Law on January 21, 2019.[1] The law included some language regarding the disbandment of the paramilitary groups. The law waived certain eligibility requirements for joining the police force for MILF and MNLF fighters.[2] In addition, it obligated the national and regional governments to establish programs to rehabilitate MILF and MNLF fighters.[3]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XI, Section 2.
[3] “Republic Act No. 11054,” Article XVI, Section 1.
Paramilitary Groups – 2021
The Bangsamoro Basic Law ratified in 2019 includes some language regarding the disbandment of paramilitary groups. [1] The National Task Force for the Disbandment of PAGs (NTF-DPAGs) has ongoing security assessment and inventory of private armed groups (PAGs) in the region, and the DPAGs had an awareness campaign. However, there was no report of any private armed groups being disbanded.[2]
[1] “Fifth public report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, March 11, 2019.
[2] “Seventh Public Report,” Third Party Monitoring Team, January 2022.