MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday told the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to "set aside differences and avoid further conflict" with the government.
Moro rebels began handing over their guns to independent foreign monitors, as part of a peace treaty aimed at ending a decades-long separatist insurgency that has left about 150,000 people dead.
"For every Filipino, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, or ideological learnings, will have a chance to live in peace," Duterte said during the decommissioning of some MILF fighters in Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao, where thousands of rebel weapons were surrendered.
"Walang gusto sa atin ang magpatayan." (Nobody here wants to kill each other.)
Just more than a thousand guerrillas turned in 940 weapons in a single day, in a graduated decommissioning process that aims to turn the MILF, the country's largest rebel force, into a regular political party.
“Do not be sad na ang armas binigay niyo sa gobyerno kasi kayo gobyerno na. Kung kailangan niyo ng armas, bigyan ko kayo ng mas bago,” Duterte told the ex-rebels.
(Do not be sad that you gave your weapons to the government, you are already a government. If you want guns, I'll give you new ones.)
The process is considered a crucial step under a peace deal that granted the recently installed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
"I take pride that we make significant progress, including the annex on normalization. It's a huge step in achieving our goal," Duterte said.
MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim previously said this development is the first of three stages of the gradual decommissioning of the MILF fighters.
Duterte promised assistance to the rebels-turned-civilians as they face a new life in society.
"Let me assure our MILF combatants that the government will assist you as you reintegrate into society and enjoy fruitful & productive civilian lives," Duterte told the former rebels.
By March 2020, some 12,000 fighters comprising 30 percent of the MILF total force are expected to be decommissioned.
—With a report from Agence France-Presse
Rodrigo Duterte, MILF, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, decommissioning, rebels, combatants, weapons, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, BARMM, Murad Ebrahim