The separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday announced that it would aid the government in the crackdown on illegal drugs in MILF-covered areas.
The Interior Department and the rebel group signed a memorandum of agreement in Davao City Tuesday, with both groups vowing to cooperate in the fight against illegal drugs under the terms of reference under the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.
AFP Brigadier General Glenn Macasero, who chairs the government CCCH, signed the agreement. Lawyer Abdul Dataya who chairs the MILF AHJAG and Butch Malang, who chairs the MILF CCCH, signed the deal for the rebel group.
Under the deal, the MILF will cooperate with government operatives in the anti-illegal drug operations, following existing regulations under Republic Act 9165 and all relevant agreements signed between the GPH and the MILF.
The MILF will also conduct information drives on the effects of illegal drugs in the MILF-affected areas as part of its demand reduction activities.
In November last year, the MILF central committee issued a directive to its political and military leaders to help curb the brisk trading in “shabu” in Moro communities. But this was met with objections from government security agencies fearing that this would breach the ceasefire accord between the government and the MILF.
“With the election of Duterte as president of this country and his hardline policy on drugs, the campaign of the MILF against drugs finds comfort,” read a recent editorial on the MILF’s official website.
The MILF, which forged a peace pact with the government in 2014, said it was compelled to launch the anti-shabu campaign as “the drug menace is already destroying the future of the Bangsamoro people and hence should be confronted head on.”
The group said it had “identified hundreds to thousands of drug pushers, especially in central Mindanao” through the campaign which, it added, already “achieved some successes… and saved so many users or addicts from further destruction.”