The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines on 8 April announced it had formed its own political party just two weeks after signing a peace deal with the government. Naming the party the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the 11,000-strong MILF will field a number of candidates to contest leadership in the future Bangsamoro autonomous region in Mindanao. “We have already named chairs in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao and other areas,” political affairs chief Ghadzali Jaafar said.
Chief MILF negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told Philippines Daily Inquirer the group would welcome all candidates so long as “he or she is for the good of the Bangsamoro.” The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a historic peace agreement on March 27 in Manila, the country’s capital, in an effort to end a conflict that has split the country for decades.