The Moro Islamic Liberation Front was an Islamist group based in Mindanao, Philippines, seeking an autonomous region of the Moro people from the central government. The group had a presence in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, Palawan, Basilan, and other neighbouring islands. The armed wing of the group was the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), although the name of its parent organization, the MILF, was often used to refer to the BIAF. In July, 2018, the Philippine government passed the Bangsamoro Organic Law, giving more autonomy to Muslims. In return, MILF announced that it would disarm its 30,000 fighters.
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was an autonomous region of the Philippines, located in the Mindanao island group of the Philippines, that consisted of five predominantly Muslim provinces: Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. It was the only region that had its own government. The region's de facto seat of government was Cotabato City, although this self-governing city was outside its jurisdiction.
The Moro conflict was an insurgency in the Mindanao region of the Philippines which involved multiple armed groups. A decades-long peace process has resulted in various peace deals have been signed between the Philippine government and two major armed groups, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but other smaller armed groups continue to exist. In 2017, the peace council settled around 138 clan conflicts.
The Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) is a decoration awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces and allied military members for exceptionally distinguished service or merit in senior command or staff positions.
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) is a decoration awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service, or the furtherance of links with overseas forces.
Formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the various armed groups involved in the Moro conflict began in 1976 when the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front first met to negotiate towards the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, and most recently reached a major milestone in the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) through a plebiscite in 2018, leading to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. However, conflicts with other smaller armed groups continue to exist.
The Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) was the final peace agreement signed between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on March 27, 2014 at the Malacañang Palace in Manila, which eventually led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (often referred to simply as the Bangsamoro, in January 2019.
An autonomous region of the Philippines is a first-level administrative division that has the authority to control a region's culture and economy. The Constitution of the Philippines allows for two autonomous regions: in the Cordilleras and in Muslim Mindanao. Currently, Bangsamoro, which largely consists of the Muslim-majority areas of Mindanao, is the only autonomous region in the country.
The 1976 Tripoli Agreement was signed on December 23, 1976 in Tripoli, Libya by Carmelo Z. Barbero, representing the Government of the Philippines and Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front. The agreement defined autonomous administrative divisions for Muslims in the southern Philippines, the establishment of an autonomous government, judicial system for Sharia law and special security forces, and the observance of a ceasefire. The autonomous region was to have its own economic system, including an Islamic bank.
Halbi bin Haji Mohammad Yussof is a Bruneian nobleman, military officer, and politician, who currently serves as a Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, and previously served as the Minister of Defence II from 2018 to 2022, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 2015 to 2018, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), and Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF).
The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang, also translated as The Most Exalted Order of Famous Valour, is an order of Brunei. It was established on 1 August 1968 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Aminuddin Ihsan bin Haji Abidin is a retired Bruneian commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) who serves from 2009 until 2014 and also the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) from 2018 until 2022. Additionally, he led the first Bruneian contingent attached to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao.
Mohammad Tawih bin Abdullah is a Bruneian nobleman and military officer who became the 9th Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) who serves from 2014 until 2018.
Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah is a retired Bruneian military officer who served as the 8th commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 2008 to 2013.
Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir is the current Ambassador of Brunei to Indonesia since 2024. He was formerly the Deputy Minister of Defence and the 12th Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF) in 2022. Additionally, he was among the contingent attached to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao.
Spry bin Haji Serudi @ Seruji, also referred to as Dato Spry, is a Bruneian military officer whom formerly took office as the twelfth commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 2020 to 2022. He is the first naval officer in charge of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) contingent from Brunei from 2012 to 2013.
Mohammad Ismaon bin Haji Zainie is a retired Bruneian military officer who served as the Chief of Staff of the Joint Forces Headquarters of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the deputy commander of the Training Institute Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Additionally, he was among the contingent attached to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao.
The Joint Force Headquarters of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, natively known as Markas Angkatan Bersama Angkatan Tentera Diraja Brunei, is a combined military command that was established expressly to oversee all joint operations activities of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. At least three services, including the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), and Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), participate in joint operations.
Muhammad Wata bin Abdullah Awat, simply known as Wata, is a Bruneian military officer who served as the current Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) since 2022. Additionally, he was among the contingent attached to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao.
Azman bin Haji Bangkol is a former Bruneian military officer who served as the Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) from 2020 to 2022. Additionally, he was among the contingent attached to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao. He has notably served as the deputy for three RBLF commanders consisting of Haszaimi Bol Hassan, Abdul Razak and Saifulrizal Abdul Latif.
