MANILA, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed an historic pact with the Philippine government Thursday (March 27th), promising to give up their arms for an autonomous homeland after four decades of violence, AFP reported.

"The comprehensive agreement on Bangsamoro is the crowning glory of our struggle," MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim said at a signing ceremony. "With this agreement the legitimate aspirations of the Bangsamoro and the commitment of the government of the Philippines to recognise those aspirations are now sealed."

The pact makes the MILF and the government partners in a plan to create a southern autonomous region for Muslims with locally elected leaders by mid-2016.

The autonomous region would have its own police force, a regional parliament and power to levy taxes, while revenues from the region's natural resources would be split with the national government. The national government would retain control over defence, foreign policy, currency and citizenship.