New IDB Chairman virtually convenes the Board for the first time

COTABATO CITY (16 August 2021) – Following the end of term of HE Fatih Ulusoy, the new Chairman of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) – HE Ahmet Idem Akay (Turkey), led the virtual conduct of the third IDB board meeting for this year last 09 August 2021 via Zoom video teleconference.

Present during the virtual board meeting were Vice-Chairman William Hovland (Norway), GPH Representatives (Ret) LtGen Rey Ardo and Prof. Mario Aguja, MILF Representative Jannati Mimbantas, Chief of Staff Einar Aas, and the Department Managers. Aside from the new Chairman, the new Bruneian Board Member, Mr. Haji Azlan bin Haji Abdul Ghani, was also officially introduced and welcomed by the Board members.

Among the key items that were discussed during the meeting include the Decommissioning Phase 3 Work Plan, Japanese participation to the IDB Headquarters, and the continuing preparations for the eventual implementation of the third phase of verification and decommissioning of MILF combatants and weapons.

Since 2020, the IDB Board has been regularly conducting the board meeting on a virtual setting due to both international and local movement restrictions imposed to further curb the spread of COVID-19. Nevertheless, IDB remains firm and committed in fulfilling its mandate of overseeing the decommissioning process. // CRA