COTABATO CITY, BARMM — A former official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) armed wing is questioning why heavily armed members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) were seen at an MILF gathering in Camp Darapanan despite an election gun ban being enforced across the Bangsamoro region.
Abunawas Maslamama, a former BIAF spokesperson who used the name Von Al Haq, criticized the reported display and carrying of firearms during the BIAF Grand Assembly held at the MILF headquarters in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Thursday, September 3.
Maslamama argued that the presence of armed fighters in battle gear raises questions about compliance with the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) restrictions ahead of the September 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
According to Inquirer, Maslamama said images and livestreams from the assembly showed participants carrying firearms while wearing what appeared to be full battle gear. He urged the Comelec to clarify whether the election gun ban applies to such an assembly, particularly as the region approaches its historic parliamentary polls.
MILF camp or election violation?
The controversy centers on whether the location and nature of the gathering affect the application of the election gun ban.
A BIAF commander pushed back against Maslamama’s accusation, saying the gathering was an MILF event held inside an MILF camp and therefore did not constitute a violation of the election gun ban or the ceasefire agreement.
That dispute now puts the focus on a larger question: how should the gun ban be enforced when armed members of a former rebel organization gather inside one of its established camps during the election period?
The BIAF is the military wing of the MILF and is supposed to undergo decommissioning under the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro peace deal.
Maslamama, who previously served as BIAF intelligence chief and as a senior minister in the Bangsamoro government, also criticized the participation of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the MILF’s political party, in the assembly.
He argued that the gathering had taken on political overtones as the election campaign heats up.
Maslamama has since left the UBJP and joined the Bangsamoro Federalist Party, led by Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.
Controversy comes after separate MILF convoy was stopped
The questions over firearms come just days after another incident involving armed MILF members triggered heightened security concerns in Lanao del Norte.
On September 2, around 200 MILF members, roughly half of them reportedly armed and in uniform, were intercepted by Army and police personnel while traveling toward Lanao del Norte.
Authorities said the group had prior coordination for movement within Lanao del Sur, but its planned movement into Lanao del Norte had not been properly coordinated.
The convoy reportedly consisted of 23 four-wheel vehicles and five motorcycles. After negotiations, the armed group agreed to return rather than continue to the planned gathering. Five vehicles carrying unarmed civilians were allowed to proceed.
The Philippine Army and police emphasized that the intervention was aimed at maintaining public safety and enforcing security procedures as the BARMM elections approach.
PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co described the lack of coordination as a security concern, particularly because a large number of armed individuals were traveling together.
BARMM already facing gun-related security concerns
The latest controversy comes amid heightened security operations across BARMM.
Police previously reported 43 gun-related incidents in the region since the election gun ban took effect on July 16. The incidents had resulted in 14 deaths and eight injuries, although authorities said most were linked to personal disputes, clan feuds, robbery or illegal drugs rather than election-related violence.
The Comelec, meanwhile, had classified only one of those incidents as election-related at the time of its August assessment.
Security forces have consequently intensified checkpoints and coordination efforts across the region ahead of the September 14 parliamentary elections.
The Philippine Army has identified 29 areas in BARMM as being under a heightened or “red” security classification because of serious threats and a history of election-related violence.
MILF leadership calls for peaceful elections
The controversy is also unfolding during a politically significant period for the MILF.
At the Camp Darapanan gathering, MILF chair Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim urged members and supporters to defend Bangsamoro autonomy through the ballot box.
MILF vice chair Mohagher Iqbal likewise called for a peaceful electoral process, saying the organization should not resort to violence during the elections.
The MILF is seeking parliamentary seats through the UBJP in the first regional parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
For Maslamama, however, the sight of armed BIAF members during the election period warrants a clear ruling from the Comelec.
His call for clarification comes as authorities attempt to balance the Bangsamoro peace process, the continuing decommissioning of former MILF combatants, and the need to enforce strict election security measures.
With the September 14 polls only days away, the question over who can carry firearms, where they can carry them, and under what circumstances could become an increasingly sensitive issue in BARMM.
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