Editing Moro Islamic Liberation Front (section)

===Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain===
On August 4, 2008, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a temporary restraining order, preventing the government and the MILF from officially signing the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), which would conclude all dispute and begin formal talks that would lead to the drafting and eventual signing of a Final Comprehensive Compact between the two groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jurand |first=Deirdre |date=August 4, 2008 |title=Philippines High Court Blocks Signing of Regional Peace Agreement |url=http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/08/philippines-high-court-blocks-signing.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603093406/http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/08/philippines-high-court-blocks-signing.php |archive-date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=June 4, 2010 |website=Jurist |publisher=University of Pittsburgh }}</ref> The court accepted motions by the southern provincial governments that objected to the extended boundaries for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao envisioned in the peace deal. The MOA-AD would have allowed the Moro people to gain control of the region under the concept of [[human rights]] with the right to establish a [[police]] force and to control [[natural resource]]s.<ref name=wpraug2008>{{cite news|last=Parameswaran|first=Prashanth|title=Preserving the Southern Philippines' Threatened Peace Deal|publisher=World Politics Review|date=August 18, 2008|url=http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=2579|access-date=January 14, 2009|archive-date=October 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002085605/http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=2579|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The MOA-AD was initialed by former governor and peace panel chair Rodolfo Garcia and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process [[Hermogenes Esperon]] and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal on July 27, 2008, in Malaysia. It was scheduled for formal signing on August 5, but the Supreme Court issued no negotiation preventing the executive department from signing the agreement.<ref name="Arguillas" /> The MOA-AD was the last of several agenda items under the 2001 agreement of the GRP-MILF, after security and relief and rehabilitation, prior to the discussion on the political settlement.<ref name="Arguillas">{{Cite news |last=Arguillas |first=Carolyn O. |date=November 22, 2008 |title=SC Affirms Oct. 14 Ruling on "Unconstitutional" MOA-AD |work=MindaNews |url=http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5515&Itemid=190 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 14, 2010 |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413161158/http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5515&Itemid=190 }}</ref>

The [[Young Moro Professionals Network]] (YMPN) appealed to the public not to be afraid of the MOA-AD and to "open your hearts to the Moro grievance".<ref name="YMPN" /> The YMPN said in a statement dated August 21, 2009:
<blockquote>In these times of hardship, we hold hands as one, with our Christian and Islamic neighbours, in the name of peace, acceptance and justice. We are committed to democratic and peaceful resolution of the conflict. Do not be afraid of the MOA-AD. To the national public, open your hearts to the Moro grievance.<ref name="YMPN">{{Cite news |date=2009 |title=Young Moro Group Appeals to Public: "Open Your Hearts to the Moro Grievance" |work=MindaNews |url=http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5037&Itemid=190 }}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref></blockquote>

Over the next month, several MILF commanders were tagged by government officials as having initiated an offensive campaign. The [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] responded to the allegation by immediately deploying ten battalions composed of a total of 6,000 soldiers into Mindanao under the command of Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009 |title=Military Starts Operations Against Bravo |work=MindaNews |url=http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5003&Itemid=190 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 15, 2009 |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905173733/http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5003&Itemid=190 }}</ref> The violence displaced over 600,000 people and left about 300 dead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallardo |first=Froilan |date=March 18, 2009 |title=Thousands Line up Road for Mindanao Peace Power Day |work=MindaNews |url=http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6100&Itemid=190 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 15, 2009 |archive-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410132749/http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6100&Itemid=190 }}</ref>

On October 14, 2008, the court conducted a series of divided votes declared "contrary to law and the Constitution" the MOA-AD of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front [[Tripoli Agreement]] of Peace on 2001. [[Conchita Carpio-Morales]] ruled: "In sum, the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process committed grave abuse of discretion when he failed to carry out the pertinent consultation process. The furtive process by which the MOA-AD was designed and crafted runs contrary to and in excess of the legal authority and amounts to a whimsical, capricious, oppressive, arbitrary and despotic exercise thereof. It illustrates a gross evasion of positive duty and a virtual refusal to perform the duty enjoined."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rempillo |first=Jay B. |date=October 14, 2008 |title=SC Declares MOA-AD Unconstitutional |url=http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/news/courtnews%20flash/2008/10/10140801.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017064214/http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/news/courtnews%20flash/2008/10/10140801.php |archive-date=October 17, 2008 |access-date=October 15, 2008 |website=Supreme Court of the Philippines}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rufo |first=Aries |date=October 14, 2008 |title=Palace Loses Ancestral Domain Case with 8-7 SC Vote |work=ABS-CBN News Online |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/14/08/palace-loses-ancestral-domain-case-8-7-vote |access-date=June 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522115427/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/14/08/palace-loses-ancestral-domain-case-8-7-vote |archive-date=May 22, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Tetch |date=October 14, 2008 |title=SC: MILF Deal Unconstitutional: Arroyo Can't Enter Pacts Needing Charter Change |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081014-166307/SC-MILF-deal-unconstitutional |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522111909/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081014-166307/SC-MILF-deal-unconstitutional |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=June 4, 2010 |website=Inquirer.net}}</ref>

Civil society organizations such as [[Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society]] submitted a motion for reconsideration. However, on November 21, 2008, the Supreme Court affirmed its October 14 ruling that declared unconstitutional the MOA-AD between the Philippine government and the MILF.<ref name="Arguillas" />

MILF soldiers offered to help free the Irish priest father Michael Sinott, who was kidnapped in the Philippines on October 14, 2009, and sought permission to deploy about 100 of its soldiers in the area where Sinnott is believed to be held. However, this was turned down by the Philippine government.