One of the country’s secessionist movement, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) formally registered its own political party with the Commission on Elections for the forthcoming national elections in the year 2016. According to MILF, its own political party is committed in working with the national government to attain peace in Mindanao.
According to MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, the MILF political party assures the government that their group will be engaging no longer through armed struggle, but through democratic struggle.
The MILF leaders maintained however, that the group will remain as a social movement, and assured that their members will participate in the election of new officials once the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is approved.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a rebel group in Mindanao that seeks autonomy of the Moro people from the Philippine national government. It has presence in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao, Sulu Archipelago, Palawan, Basilan, and other neighbouring islands.
MILF came from the original Muslim rebel group, Moro National Liberation Front which was headed by Nur Misuari until his group signed a peace deal with the government in 1996.