The Moro-Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA) questioned the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ holding of live-fire exercises or the firing of howitzers and mortars in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao del Sur on August 15.

The 6th ID carried out three types of test firing: one with a 400-meter range, one up to four kilometers, and another involving heavy and long-range artillery support that targeted the neighboring barangay.

“Why is the 6th ID conducting live-fire exercises in Maguindanao del Sur this week? Is it preparing for a new attack on Moro communities?” MCPA spokesperson Amirah Lidasan asked.

She condemned the firing and called for the immediate halt of using live ammunition in such exercises because it endangers Moro communities and relives civilians’ trauma from relentless military attacks in Maguindanao in the past.

She said these firings are alarming since they coincide with protests demanding the ouster of Marcos officials Anton Lagdameo (Special Assistant to the President) and Secretary Carlito Galvez of OPAPRU, whom the Moro people consider obstacles to the peace process between the GRP and the MILF. This also coincides with the withdrawal of the MILF from the normalization or decommissioning process of its fighters amid the GRP’s failure to address its tasked provisions.

“The presence of heavy artillery near communities inside the BARMM shows the government’s grave insincerity in the peace process and reinforces the MILF’s concern over the government’s lack of substantive response to the agreements,” Lidasan said.

She added that another cause for concern is the conduct of such exercises as the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections draw near.