Government, MILF forge protocol for decommissioning of rebels following bloody clash

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - After the bloody clash in southern Philippines resulting in the death of 44 policemen, the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels have inked the implementing guidelines for the decommissioning of Muslim rebels and their weapons, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said today.

The 10-page protocol was signed by government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, senior Turkish diplomat Haydar Berk, who is chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), and Tengku Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, Malaysian facilitator, during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

"Standing by their commitment to achieve the objectives of the normalization process, the parties finalized and signed the Protocol on the Implementation of the Terms of Reference of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB)," Ferrer said.

The protocol states that the IDB will conduct the inventory, verification and validation of the members, arms and weapons of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF combatant; and develop and implement the schedule of decommissioning of BIAF members.

It also provides for the plan, design, and implement techniques and technologies for weapons collection or retrieval, transport, and storage and putting weapons beyond use in accordance with the agreements of the parties.

The IDB is also tasked to ensure that the parties comply with all the necessary steps and processes for decommissioning.

The forging of the protocol was done shortly after the alleged "mis-encounter" between the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police and members of the MILF in Mamasapano in Maguindanao last Sunday.

Some 44 SAF members were killed during the incident.