Exactly a decade after the tragic Mamasapano encounter in 2015, another clash recently occurred, on January 22, 2025, claiming the lives of two soldiers and leaving 12 others wounded during a security operation supporting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to reports, members of the 32nd Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were ambushed by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters while escorting United Nations personnel for a community engagement in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng in the town of Sumisip, Basilan.
In an interview in Cotabato City, Butch Malang, chairman of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), claimed that government troops failed to coordinate with local MILF commanders, asserting that this was a violation of the peace agreement. However, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. assured that proper coordination had been made prior to the troops’ entry.
The government and the MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in 2014 to end violence in the region and prevent a recurrence of the tragic Mamasapano incident, which was blamed on a “lack of coordination.” Under this agreement, government troops cannot enter MILF-controlled areas without prior coordination with the CCCH and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). Despite years of peace-building efforts, the Basilan encounter again underscored the costly consequences of miscommunication and mistrust.
Strengthening Ties
In response to the clash, MILF Peace Implementing Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal emphasized that ceasefire protocols must be strictly adhered to and that such incidents “must not happen again.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine government’s Peace Implementing Panel urged all parties involved to “remain calm” and allow joint verification efforts between government and MILF peace mechanisms to proceed.
Both sides have since agreed to strengthen coordination to prevent similar conflicts, reassuring the public that the Basilan incident will not jeopardize the long-earned peace in Mindanao.
United Muslim Communities of Bicol Region
Before the peace process, Mindanao had endured long-standing violence and conflict, especially during the Martial Law era under the late President Ferdinand Marcos. In search of stability and a chance to escape the conflict, many Muslims sought refuge in various parts of the Philippines, including Bicol, leaving behind their ancestral lands.
Among those who relocated was the family of Al Amin Datumanong Hassan, now the regional president of the United Muslim Communities of Bicol Region (UMCBR), who has lived in Bicol since 1979.
In Bicol, they found a sense of belonging and the opportunity to live peaceful, prosperous lives with their families.
“Bicolanos are very welcoming. There is no discrimination here, regardless of your tribe, sect, or background. As long as you integrate into the community, you are embraced as one of their own,” Sultan Hassan shared, speaking primarily in Tagalog.
While both the BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) and the government work to prevent ongoing conflicts in Mindanao, the Muslim community in Bicol has also contributed to maintaining peace in the region. Through the United Muslim Communities of Bicol Region (UMCBR), Muslim leaders regularly hold dialogues to ensure that radical groups, illegal drug activities, and other criminal influences do not infiltrate their communities.
“Our objective is to show Bicolanos that Muslims stand for peace,” Sultan Hassan stated.
As Mindanao continues its efforts toward lasting peace, the Muslim community in Bicol echoes this goal by initiating programs that protect the region they now call home. This serves as a reminder to all Filipinos of two important things: respect is a fundamental element in fostering understanding and strong relationships, and each of us must play a role in contributing what we can—no matter how small our efforts may seem—because the pursuit of a peaceful community is a shared responsibility.
“Let us unite in promoting peace and security in life. Let us be instruments in solving the problems in the Philippines,” Sultan Hassan said.
On the 10th anniversary of the Mamasapano clash, on January 25, 2025, journalists from across the Philippines, including a representative from BicoldotPH, paid tribute to the victims of the Mamasapano clash by laying wreath and offering prayers. On January 15, 2015, the police operation “Oplan Exodus,” aimed at the arrest of international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (alias “Marwan”) and Filipino terrorist Abdul Basit Usman, led to a firefight that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members, 18 MILF fighters, and five civilians.I Helen Grace Balean, Nicole Castillo