Third party monitors on GPH-MILF framework pact to be formed soon

MANILA -- The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will formally organize this month the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) that will monitor the implementation of the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).

Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said Saturday that the TPMT, which was a result of the January 25 formal talks in Malaysia between the two parties, will be composed of five to seven members.

He explained that the TPMT shall be headed by an international eminent person and two others may be appointed as additional eminent persons by the parties.

The four members will come from the non-government organizations: two international and two domestic to be nominated by the GPH and the MILF, he said.

"All members are to be mutually decided," Mantawil said.

The MILF is seriously considering someone from Europe to head the TPMT, he said. But he also explained that the MILF might nominate one Muslim eminent person and at least one of the international non-government organization (INGO) to be selected from Muslim INGOs which has involvement in the resolution of global conflicts.

The GPH and MILF peace panels will meet again within the month to discuss the remaining unresolved issues on the four FAB annexes: power-sharing, wealth-sharing, transitional arrangement and modalities, and normalization. (SDR/Sunnex)