“Transforming MILF into a social movement: The most viable option in a democratic struggle.” This is the theme of the 2024 General Assembly and Consultation of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), held last Monday, 23 September 2024, at Camp Darapanan, Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. Our team from PeaceBuilders Community, Inc., and Coffee For Peace was invited by the Hon. Mohagher Iqbal (Chair, MILF Peace Negotiating Panel) through MP Mary Ann Arnado (Bangsamoro Parliament). Before a crowd of 300,000+, I was invited to be one of the speakers to express support to their transformation from being an armed revolutionary group to becoming a social movement. As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) governance continue to take shape, I found myself reflecting on the MILF’s future. With the transition period nearing its conclusion, the MILF faced a critical decision: What comes next for a movement born out of armed revolution?
In my conversations with former MILF combatants and leaders, I began to see their vision and their points of view. For them, the most viable option for sustaining the Bangsamoro cause was to transform the MILF into a ‘Social Movement’. As a peacebuilding worker, I’ve seen the power of grassroots organizing, advocacy, and nonviolent action. I believe this transition would allow the MILF to continue championing the needs of the Bangsamoro people.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as an Armed Revolutionary Movement
In my journey as a peacebuilding worker, I have had the privilege of walking alongside communities deeply affected by the decades-long conflict between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The MILF, born from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the 1970s, carried the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people—a marginalized population whose history is scarred by exclusion, oppression, and underdevelopment.
My early encounters with the MILF’s narrative happened initially as a volunteer of Bantay Ceasefire (Ceasefire Watch), one of the major activities of Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus, a civil society organization led by Atty. Mary Ann Arnado. That exposure revealed MILF as an armed revolutionary movement driven by the desire for self-determination. Their vision was to establish a separate Bangsamoro state, a vision rooted in centuries of injustice, particularly regarding territorial rights and the systematic exclusion of the Moro people from political and economic development in Mindanao.
For decades, the MILF waged an armed struggle. I witnessed how this conflict led to devastation—displaced families, destroyed livelihoods, and the deep scars of trauma in the people. Yet, despite the violence, I observed the resilience of the MILF leadership. Over time, they evolved from being solely a military force to becoming political representatives of the Bangsamoro people, especially during peace negotiations. It was this shift that caught my attention as a peacebuilder—seeing a militarized movement mature into political engagement gave me hope that genuine peace was possible.
The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)
In 2014, I was at the Malacañang Palace in Manila when the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) was signed. I felt a wave of optimism. It was a historic moment, not just for the Bangsamoro people but for peacebuilders like myself who had spent years working with communities affected by the conflict. The CAB represented a bridge—a negotiated path toward political autonomy for the Bangsamoro, without the need for continued armed struggle.
The CAB established the framework for the creation of a new political entity, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). It also initiated the decommissioning of MILF combatants, an enormous step for a movement whose identity had been rooted in armed resistance. As I sat with MILF leaders during these pivotal moments, I reflected on the courage it took to trust in a process that would transform them from combatants to peacebuilders and political actors.
This peace agreement didn’t just lay the foundation for a new political structure; it set in motion the possibility of a lasting peace that could address the Bangsamoro people’s historical grievances in a non-violent and democratic way.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law and the Establishment of BARMM
A few years later, in 2018, I watched the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) with cautious optimism. This law established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), giving the Bangsamoro people the political and fiscal autonomy they had long fought for. It was a monumental shift from the previously limited ARMM structure.
For those of us working in peace and development, the creation of BARMM represented not just a new political landscape, but also new responsibilities for governance, inclusive representation, and development. The Bangsamoro Parliament was formed, ensuring that diverse groups within the region—ethnic minorities, women, and indigenous peoples—had a seat at the table. The financial mechanisms established through the BOL, like the Block Grant, also promised greater opportunities for sustainable development.
During this time, I sat with community leaders, civil society, and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), including former MILF leaders who now took on the immense task of governance. I felt the weight of responsibility that lay on their shoulders. How would they be able to transition from fighters to governors? Would they be able to meet the expectations of their people?
MILF as a Social Movement
As the BARMM governance began to take shape, I found myself reflecting on the MILF’s future. With the transition period nearing its conclusion, the MILF faced a critical decision: what comes next for a movement born out of revolution?
In my conversations with former MILF combatants and leaders, I began to see that the most viable option for sustaining the Bangsamoro cause was to transform the MILF into a social movement. As a peacebuilding worker, I’ve seen the power of grassroots organizing, advocacy, and nonviolent action. I believe this transition would allow the MILF to continue championing the needs of the Bangsamoro people without the need for exclusive political power or returning to armed conflict.
If the MILF were to become a social movement, it could advocate for justice, accountability, and development through nonviolent means. It could organize communities to address the systemic issues that still plague the region—poverty, inequality, and lack of education and healthcare. It could also provide a platform for the voices of ordinary Bangsamoro people, ensuring that their concerns are heard, even outside the formal structures of government.
As a social movement, the MILF could remain flexible, adapting to the changing needs of its people. I envision a movement that partners with civil society, religious leaders, and local governments to build a broad coalition for sustainable change.
The Most Viable Option in a Democratic Struggle
In my reflections as a peacebuilder, I am convinced that the transformation of the MILF into a social movement is the most sustainable path forward. In a democratic context, a social movement can transcend the limitations of formal political power. It can mobilize the masses, advocate for systemic change, and remain true to the principles of justice and equity.
The MILF has already proven its capacity for evolution—from a military force to political actors. I believe that by embracing a role as a nonviolent movement, the MILF can continue to uplift the Bangsamoro people, ensuring that their voice and legacy endure in the peaceful, participatory governance of BARMM and beyond. This, to me, is the essence of a democratic struggle—the power of the people to shape their own destiny.
UAE December 2019
UAE, Dec. 2019
