Malaysian peace monitoring team to arrive in Cotabato City Sunday

A 20-man Malaysian International Monitoring Team (IMT) supervising a ceasefire between government and secessionist forces in southern Philippines will arrive in Cotabato City Sunday. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said the IMT will fly directly from Malaysia aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft. "Ambassador Rafael Seguis, chairman of the Government’s Peace Panel (GRP), will lead government officials in welcoming the Malaysians upon their arrival at Awang Airport," the OPAPP said on its website. It added that Maj. Gen. Datuk Baharom Bin Hamzah of the Malaysian Armed Forces is the incoming head of mission of the IMT. Seguis had earlier expressed optimism that the formal deployment of the IMT will strengthen the security aspect of the peace process, particularly in overseeing the ceasefire. "The IMT is also tasked to monitor the humanitarian, rehabilitation and development aspects of the peace process and the implementation of the newly signed agreement on civilian protection," the OPAPP added. On the other hand, it said the Malaysian-led IMT will have 60\ personnel, including members from Brunei, Libya, and Japan. Seguis said that with the arrival of the international monitors, the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) of the IMT will be activated. Last Feb. 17, an eight-man IMT Advance Team headed by Lt. Gen. Datuk Raja Mohammed Affendi bin Raja Mohamed, chief of staff of the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters, arrived in Manila before proceeding to southern Philippines to pave the way for the redeployment of the IMT. The government will host a welcome ceremony for the arriving Malaysian IMT at Estosan Hotel in Cotabato City. - RSJ, GMANews.TV