CAMP NAVARRO, Zamboanga City -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) released Sunday about 50 children who acted as couriers and support staff to their fathers and relatives who are members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
The children were turned over Sunday, February 19, to representatives of the government, United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and MILF in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao province.
MILF Vice Chairman Gadzali Jaafar, who represented MILF Chairman Al Hadj Murad Ibrahim, said the turnover was done to show the MILF's sincerity in supporting the peace process.
He said the rebel group wants the next generation to benefit from the peace efforts being exerted by the government and the MILF.
"We need to unite for a better tomorrow because we believe that there is a better tomorrow," said Jaafar.
Presidential Peace Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte, lauded the move, saying "the government is happy that the endeavor has finally come to reality."
He said he will talk to the other secretaries on how the government can provide support to the children in order to improve their social well-being and their communities.
The turnover Sunday was witnessed by Presidential Peace Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza; Major General Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief; Major General Datuk Wira Zamrose, head of mission of the International Monitoring Team; and some local officials of Mindanao. It was facilitated by Unicef and Jaafar, along with the different base commanders of the BIAF.
Unicef country representative Lotta Sylwander said the ceremony was a historical event, since the BIAF is the first and only armed group in the world that successfully turned over children who were involved directly or indirectly in previous armed engagements.
The Unicef, which is responsible in profiling and identifying children among the BIAF members, said that 60 percent of the children in their list are boys, while 40 percent are girls.
The group is actively helping countries that have internal and external conflicts, specifically looking into the welfare of the children who are commonly the victims of war.
The initial number of 50 is the first batch of children out of the 1,858 yet to be released from the statistical data of the international organization.
Galvez, who had been working closely with the MILF being the former chairman of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, said: "We must work hard today in order to ensure that the future will be peaceful. We must invest in the children because they are the ones who will be responsible for a peaceful and harmonious future."
"The Armed Forces sees this as a welcoming development and will be very supportive in the implementation of activities intended to develop the welfare of these children," he added.
Jaafar commended Galvez for the tremendous achievements brought about by the successful collaborations made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the MILF.
"Major General Galvez is genuinely working closely and actively in understanding the problems and finding means to be able to contribute to its long-term solution," he said.
During the turnover, certificates of disengagement were also accorded to the children, indicating their release from the organization.
Next batches of children are expected to be turned over in the coming days after parents and relatives give their consent. (PNA)