Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Palace vows to 'relentlessly' pursue peace talks with Moro rebels
PRESS Secretary Ignacio Bunye on Monday said the latest proposal of government on how to settle the ancestral domain agenda in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) proves the determination and stresses the commitment of the Arroyo administration in bringing peace and development to Mindanao.
Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's political will on that score is relentless and she is "very serious" in resolving the peace issue in Mindanao.
"She will not stop waging peace until the people are assured of lasting human security under an environment of harmony and solidarity among all Filipinos," Bunye said.
The government, through Silvestre Afable Jr., government chief negotiator, submitted on November 9, a two-page proposal on ancestral domain to the MILF. The letter-proposal was coursed through the Malaysian Government, the facilitator of the talks, before going to the MILF, as required by protocol.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the proposal had "merely enlarged the ring" and avoided the pitfalls that snagged the talks.
He did not give any other details on the proposal but said the MILF is studying it, adding that "perhaps this can lead to the resumption."
Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said they are hoping that the new proposal could "move us beyond the impasse."
The MILF had objected to the government's earlier proposal that any additional area to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) could only be made possible through a "constitutional process", which led to an impasse in the talks. (JMR/Sunnex)
