MALAYSIA will remain as the third-country facilitator on the most-anticipated resumption of peace talks between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) this September.
Presidential Edwin Lacierda on Tuesday confirmed that Malaysia will continue to mediatethe negotiation amid indications that Indonesia will be tapped for the task.
“What we have for now and what we have been informed is that Malaysia is still the third party negotiator,” said Lacierda.
He said the peace talks might resume after Ramadan.
In an ambush interview, President Benigno Aquino III agreed of not changing the third party facilitator, noting the recommendation from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.
Earlier, a senior member of MILF peace panel expressed qualms on reported inclusion of Indonesia in the peace negotiation, stressing that what they need is someone who understands the entire process.
Malaysia has been the facilitator in peace talks since the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)