The Comprehensive Peace Process under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., particularly the Transformation Program for the members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has achieved notable progress, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) announced on Saturday.
The Transformation Program is based on the socioeconomic provisions of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, which was signed with the MNLF. It has four major components: security, socio-economic, confidence-building, and community healing and reconciliation.
In a news forum in Quezon City, OPAPRU Director Darwin Wally Wee reported that almost 2,000 MNLF combatants have undergone profiling, with 1,963 now having completed the process.
“So, as of now, ang na-profile na po ‘no is 1,963 combatants completed the socioeconomic profiling. So, kinukuha po iyong profile po nila so they can have an access to government services po ‘no at iyong pag-i-stencil po ng kanilang mga armas,” Wee said.
He added that a total of 1,996 firearms from the MNLF have also been documented.
Regarding the amnesty, Wee said they have recorded 794 combatants who have applied, with expectations that more will follow.
“So, as we speak, the data as of yesterday – number of applicants is already 794. So, mixed po ‘to no – may MNLF, may MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), may NPA (New People’s Army) so mixed po ‘tong number na ‘to. But, as we progress, we expect more to come,” he said.
Wee also shared significant strides in the Normalization Program for the MILF.
Wee said OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. anticipates that around 1,000 to 3,000 militants will submit applications for amnesty, including Abdullah Macapaar of Lanao, also known as Commander Bravo, who has expressed his intention to apply.
President Marcos declared during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the “implementation of peace agreements is now in its concluding phase,” adding that former combatants are currently living peacefully and productively in their respective communities.
Some of them are now serving in the defense of the Republic as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“No guerilla fronts remain active across our country today. Only seven weakened groups remain to be dismantled, and they are the subject of focused operations. But along with the assertion of government might, we also offer peace, community development, and reintegration programs for those who have returned to the fold of the law,” the President said.
“Through a comprehensive and transformative approach, we have rebuilt not only lives, but also conflict-affected communities,” he added. PND
