COTABATO CITY – Brunei’s contingents to the fifth International Monitoring Team (IMT) flew home yesterday, ending what they described as a “meaningful” one-year tour of duty as mediating monitors of the protracted peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Top Mindanao-based officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sent off the outgoing nine-member Brunei delegation at the Davao City International Airport for a direct flight home in brief yet colorful ceremonies filled with farewell wishes.

Lt. Col. Haji Abedin Harris, head of the outgoing team, said their one-year stint in Mindanao was full of “meaningful” experiences, which he described as “complementing” the preservation of the standing ceasefire between the Philippine government and MILF forces.

He said his team’s stay in Mindanao was characterized by “safe and meaningful” interactions with stakeholders in the Mindanao peace process including MILF and military officials as well as civilian authorities of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Harris delivered a sentimental speech at a dinner banquet hosted by the Philippine Army’s Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, commander of 6th Infantry Division, at his headquarters in Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao Sunday night in honor of the outgoing team.

Alcantara individually awarded the nine outgoing Brunei monitors with medals and plaques for their contribution to the preservation of the MILF-GRP truce during the past 12 months.

In his speech, he expressed “hope to see the outgoing contingents to return to Mindanao not as peace monitors for the building of peace we have all worked for vigorously but as tourists and investors in a progressive region shaped by a positive fruit of the peace negotiations.”

Malaysian Major Gen. Datok Bahron Hamza, head of the IMT, shared the Brunei contingents’ sentiments, saying he, too, feels “comfortable” working for peace to reign in the long-troubled Mindanao.

Hamza has been able to serve fruitfully not only in monitoring the cessation of hostilities between military and MILF forces but more importantly in direct participation to settle feuds among families associated with the rebel fronts.

“Under my watch, I would want to preempt any violation of the ceasefire to be able to fully contribute to the peace process…There are some problems like the ridos (family feuds) that are yet to be resolved…We must keep on trying to resolve them, even though we are just peace monitors,” Hamza said at the recognition rites.

The outgoing Brunei contingents flew home aboard their military plane, which brought yesterday their replacement contingents led by Lt. Col Hasmee bin Hj Abd Wahab.