Gov’t won’t tackle new issues bugging pact with MNLF–DELES

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—THE government is committed to “find solutions to issues” bugging full implementation of the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) it inked with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1996, but not to tackle new ones akin to negotiations.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-deles stressed this point during the high-level meeting from March 1 to 2 in Bandung, Indonesia, between the government and the MNLF under the auspices of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The meeting sought to thresh out issues related to the parties’ respective compliance of the FPA.

In her opening address, a copy of which was given the INQUIRER, Deles cited that the OIC’S Council of Foreign Ministers itself recognized that the tripartite process’ aim “is not to renegotiate the agreement but rather to review its implementation …”

Earlier, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) criticized the bringing up of the issues of power-sharing, wealth-sharing and territory in the review.

Apart from being “outside the competence of the FPA,” these are already in the official agenda of the MILF’S peace negotiations with the government, the rebel group said.

“While we support the full implementation of the FPA, we cannot understand the wisdom of inputting new issues” into the review process, said an MILF statement.

The negotiation between the government and the MNLF officially ended on Sept. 2, 1996, “which means that no new agenda will be discussed except those relat- ed to the implementation,” the MILF further noted.

Starting as a breakaway faction of the MNLF, the MILF is currently engaged in Malaysian-facilitated talks that is into its final phase.

The MILF has been saying that its peace formula seeks to deepen and widen the gains so far achieved for Moro self-governance.

According to a news release from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, the governors of five provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) joined the government contingent in the Bandung meeting.

Also in the delegation were Representatives Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato and Sandra Sema of Maguindanao. Sacdalan and Sema are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the House committee on peace, unity and reconciliation.

Deles said their presence was aimed “to demonstrate the seriousness in government’s intent … to bring proper completion and closure to a process that has gone on for far too long.”

Deles explained that the current efforts to do institutional overhaul of the ARMM overseen by an interim leadership appointed by President Aquino is in keeping with “an understanding” reached mid-2011 “to forge partnership between government and the MNLF in pursuit of governance reform.”

A former MNLF fighter and woman leader, Bainon Karon, was appointed ARMM regional vice governor.