The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday welcomed Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim on his first visit to Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. led high-ranking military officers in welcoming Murad and his party on his historic visit to the AFP main headquarters, a first by a MILF official.
Following arrival honors held at the canopy in front of the general headquarters, Murad and his entourage were taken inside the Very Important Person lounge of Bulwagang Balangiga, where they made a courtesy call on Galvez.
Galvez and Murad exchanged tokens and gifts as a sign of their friendship. The tokens include a glass mug and framed “bayanihan” glass art.
From there, military and MILF officials, which include Abu Mohammad Ali, second vice chairperson, MILF, and Abdulrauf Abdul “Sammy Gambar” Macacua, chief of staff, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-MILF and Bangsamoro Transition Commission commissioner, proceeded to Silid Lapu-Lapu where a two-hour executive meeting was conducted between the military and MILF.
Galvez said the reciprocal visit of Murad following his visit to Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao last Oct. 6 signifies the strong trust and confidence of the MILF leadership on the Armed Forces and the national government.
“On behalf of the soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I welcome MILF Chair Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim and his party to our Headquarters here in Camp Aguinaldo,” Galvez said.
Galvez said last July, MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar and Al
Mansour and colleagues at the BTC set foot in Camp Aguinaldo to convey their commitment towards the peaceful resolution of all conflict in the Bangsamoro Region.
Galvez assured the MILF leadership that despite his retirement from the military at the age of 56 on Dec. 12, the AFP, being a dynamic organization, will keep changing leadership, but rest assured that it will continue to support the peace process with the MILF. (Francis T. Wakefield)
