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| Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of GPH peace panel |
The MOU aims to strengthen both
parties’ cooperation and further define their roles on the peaceful elections
next month in order to safeguard the ceasefire and the peace process.
“Here we see in motion our Ceasefire
Committees doing their share in making our electoral institutions stronger so
that these are able to deliver to us the blessings of democratic elections and
at the same time ensuring that our own process is not disrupted,” said
Coronel-Ferrer during the signing ceremony held in Davao City's Waterfront
Insular Hotel.
Coronel-Ferrer congratulated
members of the Joint Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities
(JCCCH) for their “valuable initiative to protect the integrity of the GPH-MILF
Ceasefire Agreement and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro while the
government ensures the conduct of honest, orderly and peaceful elections on May
13.”
Coronel-Ferrer underscored the significance
of signing the MOU because it serves to “honor and actively protect the valued
processes and commitments between the GPH and the MILF as peace partners” as
well as “safeguard the people’s freedom to choose their leaders” during
elections.
Also present in the conference
was MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal who also lauded the initiative of the
ceasefire committees, saying that this does not undermine the
"hands-off" policy of the MILF during elections. He added that
elections should reflect the mandate of the people.
According to the MOU signed by
both, the government and the MILF will abide by the gun ban with reference to
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 9561; the GPH-MILF
Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities in July 1997; and the FAB,
amongst others.
”In this manner, in our own way,
in the areas where our constituencies co-exist, through the joint security
cooperation between our forces, we are able to strengthen the integrity of
Philippine elections,” Coronel-Ferrer added.
The implementation of the MOU
guidelines is effective from April 22 to May 20, 2013 as agreed by the JCCCH,
with the concurrence of the International Monitoring Team Mission 8 (IMT 8).
Signatories to the document are
BGen Cesar Dionisio Sedillo Jr, Chairman of GPH-CCCH and Said Sheik, Chairman
of MILF CCCH with IMT 8 head MGen Dato’ Fadzil Bin Mokhtar as witness.
The parties clarified that this
partnership to strengthen ceasefire in the elections is in line with the
functions of the joint CCCH in the peace process and “not to be interpreted as
MILF’s inconsistency to its standing policy not to take part or meddle in
whatever capacity on the government electoral process.”
Among the most crucial parts of
the guidelines are the following: (1) the Parties shall ensure coordination of
the unhindered movements and deployment of election personnel and equipment and
personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National
Police, as deputized by COMELEC in polling centers within the MILF dominated
areas; (2) the Parties agreed to establish Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Post as
quick response team for this endeavor in various areas; and (3) the MILF shall
refrain from consolidating its forces from the time PCOS machines are deployed
and until election has been completed.
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