Armed Muslim rebels threaten Philippines’ midterm elections: ‘major source of violence’
With 14,000 MILF fighters still armed and tensions rising among political clans, analysts warn the polls may reignite the fires of conflict
But more than a decade later, the group has fallen short of its commitment to disarm. Of the 40,000 fighters pledged for decommissioning, only 26,145 have laid down their weapons, leaving 14,000 still active, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
The 14,000 armed fighters who remain would be enough to pose a significant threat to the region, “especially during the midterm elections”, warned Rommel Banlaoi, head of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, adding that these forces could easily be tapped as private armies by local politicians.
The MILF wields considerable influence in BARMM, where it holds key government posts, including that of Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim, who also serves as the group’s chairman.
The 2014 peace accord tasked the MILF with decommissioning its fighters in exchange for socioeconomic support. But the process has been slow and contentious.
