KL hosts fresh Philippines-MILF peace talks

Kuala Lumpur: Representatives from the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are scheduled to convene in the Malaysian capital today for a one-day peace talks meeting. The primary focus will be on advancing the decades-old peace process, which commenced in 1997, and addressing the outstanding commitments outlined in the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The Philippine government delegation will be headed by Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, while the MILF delegation will be led by Mohagher Iqbal. Malaysia, which has served as the peace process facilitator since 2023, will be represented by General (Rtd) Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.

The last meeting of the two implementing panels took place in Davao City in August. The peace dialogue has been fraught with challenges, but the 2014 CAB has provided a framework for resolving the conflict that has claimed over 120,000 lives and displaced approximately two million people since the late 1960s.

Critical issues on the agenda include the normalisation process, which encompasses disarmament, the transformation of former MILF camps, the disbandment of private armed groups, and the pursuit of transitional justice and reconciliation. A significant milestone reached during the peace process was the recent Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election held on September 14, 2026.

The upcoming Kuala Lumpur meeting will also aim to develop a roadmap for the remaining CAB provisions, providing the negotiating parties with a clear path forward. Malaysia will continue its role as facilitator in the ongoing peace talks.