COTABATO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has formally prohibited its commanders and line agencies from attending or participating in any decommissioning or normalization activities organized by the national government and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), unless granted prior written approval from its leadership.
The directive, contained in Memorandum Order No. 037, Series of 2025, was issued on August 16 and signed by Central Committee Chairman Cad Edicam. It cites the July 19 resolution of the MILF Central Committee that temporarily suspended the implementation of the fourth and final phase of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) decommissioning process.
“It is important that all Front Commanders, Base Commanders, heads of line agencies of the organization and their subordinates strictly observe protocol and official channels in dealing with our National Government counterparts,” the order read.
The memorandum further states that no Front Commander, Base Commander, Deputy Commander, or head of any MILF line agency may participate in unilateral normalization activities led by the national government or OPAPRU without written authority from the MILF Chairman. Any violation, it warned, will be deemed a serious breach of command discipline and could result in administrative or disciplinary action.
The suspension highlights the MILF’s growing unease with what it views as unilateral moves by Manila in implementing the normalization track of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Sources within the region point to frustrations over delayed socio-economic packages for decommissioned combatants and the perception that government agencies have sidelined MILF mechanisms in the process.
The development comes as the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections approach, raising questions about whether the peace process is losing traction at a critical juncture. Analysts warn that unresolved grievances could influence voter confidence, fuel factionalism within the MILF, or provide an opening for rival groups opposed to the peace deal.
While both the Philippine government and the MILF continue to affirm their commitment to peace, the directive underscores the fragility of trust between the two parties. Observers say the coming months will be decisive: Can the normalization track be recalibrated before elections, or will mounting dissatisfaction harden into political tension?
For now, the order signals that the MILF is tightening its internal discipline, projecting unity, and sending a message — the peace process must proceed on terms agreed upon, not unilaterally imposed.