DAVAO DEL NORTE—The Coordinating Committee on
the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) of the Government of the Philippines (GPH)
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has noted a zero incident of armed
encounter between the government and MILF forces in 2012.
The GPH and MILF CCCH, popularly known as the
ceasefire committee, posted the report at the MILF's luwaran.com website on New
Year's Day.
"Year 2012 is indeed a historic year for
the current GPH-MILF Peace Process. It is the only year that not a single armed
encounter between government and MILF forces have occurred," the
committee's Secretariat reported.
Last October 15, 2012, the peace negotiating
panels of the government and MILF through the assistance of the Malaysian Third
Party Facilitator signed the historic GPH-MILF Framework Agreement on the
Bangsamoro.
Maj. Carlos Sol Jr., GPH CCCH secretariat
head, noted that "the effectiveness of the ceasefire mechanisms and strong
cooperation and partnership between the government and MILF forces attributed
the zero armed encounters for 2012."
"The signing of the Framework Agreement
had significantly improved and sustained the adherence and support to the
ceasefire particularly among the ground commanders of the government and MILF
and the local government units," he added.
M/Gen Datuk Abdul Rahim, IMT Head of Mission,
commended the GPH-MILF CCCH and urged both parties to keep the zero incidents
in 2013.
"We should maintain the stable situation
on the ground. The implementation of the Framework Agreement necessitates
conducive environment for its greater success," he said.
Japan, Indonesia, Norway and the European
Union were very significant in the successful realization of the Framework
Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
President Aquino III witnessed the signing of
the Framework Agreement along with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd
Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. PNA
