Mayor urges peace panel to honor its commitment

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Monday, February 20, 2012

MAYOR Celso Lobregat has lamented the Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel’s delay in the conduct of consultations with Zamboangueños and other stakeholders in Mindanao relative to the ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Lobregat issued the statement as noted that GPH chief negotiator Marvic Leonen has declared the peace process has moved forward at the end of the 25th formal exploratory talks in Malaysia on Wednesday of last week.

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Leonen likewise expressed optimism that the government will meet its time line to ink an agreement with the Moro group this year. The next round of formal talks is scheduled in March.

Lobregat emphasized that Leonen should honor his commitment to come back to Zamboanga City and consult with the residents here.

Lobregat said he was assured by Leonen during an executive session with local officials in City Hall on May last year that his group will schedule public consultations in this city in a bid to come up with a mutually acceptable proposed agreement.

On August 17, 2011, Lobregat said he wrote the GPH panel chief reminding him of his commitment.

“I have been told by Chairman Leonen that they will be coming here last September but it is now February,” Lobregat lamented.

Lobregat has repeatedly said that true, genuine and meaningful public consultations, not only with local government officials but with all stakeholders and sectors of the society, are crucial foundations for any peace process.

On February 15, Regional Development Council-9 (RDC-9) chair Mayor Evelyn Uy proposes during a meeting that RDC-9 and RPOC-9 should be made a part in the ongoing peace negotiations between the GPH and the MILF so that the people in the area would know the progress of the talks.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who attended the meeting, expressed agreement to Uy's proposal.

Robredo hopes that there will be consultations before the agreement is finalized to prevent the mistakes of the past.