PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pushed to accelerate the implementation of the normalization commitments of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants under its Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB).
In a statement on Wednesday, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr. said that following the elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) last Sept. 14, the Marcos administration is committed to pursuing the 2014 peace agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF.
“Completing the remaining normalization commitments under the CAB will be a key measure of progress toward a stable and peaceful Bangsamoro,” Lagdameo said.
During the Peace Implementing Panels held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sept. 25, both the government and the MILF vowed to advance the provisions of the CAB, which resulted in the Declaration of Continuity of the Partnership and the updated roadmap for implementing the agreement.
The peace panels likewise extended the mandates of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group through Sept. 25, 2027, and the Civilian Protection Component through Sept. 25, 2028.
The parties also agreed in principle on a framework to control small arms and light weapons to strengthen security and civilian protection.
Lagdameo said that the initiative forms part of a bigger goal, noting that the normalization process is more than just disposing of weapons but should be complemented with socioeconomic development, security arrangements, disbanding private armed groups, protecting civilians, and advancing transitional justice and reconciliation.
“These initiatives are intended to help former combatants and their families establish sustainable civilian livelihoods,” Lagdameo stressed.
He said that the peace panels also adopted a beneficiary-centered approach for decommissioned combatants and six recognized MILF camps.
The government previously reported investing roughly P4 billion in socioeconomic support between 2019 and July 2025, alongside providing a P100,000 cash grant to each decommissioned combatant.
Additional support measures include Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) enrollment, civil registration aid, vocational skills training, and emergency employment.
For 2026, the national government expanded its funding to cover educational assistance for an additional 3,500 beneficiaries and skills training for 2,000 individuals.
Lagdameo said that these sustained investments aim to help former combatants and their families build long-term civilian livelihoods.
As of July 4, 2024, 26,145 out of 40,000 combatants have been decommissioned, reaching 65.4 percent of the target and leaving 13,855 individuals to be processed.
Over the same period, authorities registered the surrender of 4,625 weapons out of a planned 7,200, representing a 64.2 percent completion rate with 2,575 firearms remaining.
Lagdameo said that the coming phase demands steady coordination among national officials, the MILF, and the Bangsamoro government, which aims to settle remaining issues, set firm progress deadlines, and guarantee that former fighters and affected communities receive their agreed-upon aid and security protection.
Lagdameo further noted that after the regional elections, the goal of the Marcos administration is to ensure that lasting peace and inclusive development follow.
