MANILA – The 31st formal exploratory peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held in Kuala Lumpur will end Saturday with both panels expected to issue a joint statement on the outcome of the four-day negotiations.
In a phone interview Friday night, Ms. Polly Mitchelle Cunanan, spokesman of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), said the peace panels of both sides discussed thoroughly the most contentious issues of the talks – the power and wealth sharing but declined to elaborate, except by saying a statement will be issued on Saturday.
Earlier, OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles described the 31st exploratory talks as “the final, crucial stages of negotiations” as the government and MILF peace panels would resume their discussion on unresolved issues.
Deles said the GPH peace panel “remains cautiously optimistic on the prospects of signing a GPH-MILF peace agreement this year, adding that this optimism comes from the “strong desire from both sides of the table to sign a peace agreement in the earliest possible time,” Deles added.
She said the determination of both GPH and the MILF panels to forge an agreement was “shown by the serious preparations undertaken on each side for every round of peace negotiations, including coming up with solutions to address the difficult issues still being discussed on the table.”
During the previous round of talks, Deles noted, both panels cited in their joint statement that their respective Technical Working Groups (TWGs) have reached consensus on the issues on power sharing and revenue generation and wealth sharing arrangements between the Philippine government and the proposed new autonomous political entity (NPE) that is envisioned to replace the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
“But there is also no denying that the issues still on the table will not be easy to settle as in critical details of power and wealth sharing, territorial scope, and normalization to include disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of the MILF’s troops,” Deles pointed out.
She said another indication that could signify the desire of both parties to be able to craft an agreement was “the clear cooperation of the MILF leadership in dealing with the attacks of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) and its armed wing the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (Biff)” in the towns of Maguindanao and North Cotabato last month.
In a previous joint statement, the GPH and the MILF panels said that they “will work together to ensure that these spoilers will not succeed as the Parties continue to push forward to bring just and lasting peace to our peoples and communities.”
Deles said the Aquino government was firm with its position to pursue law enforcement operations against BIFM, led by Ameril Umra Kato.
She said Kato is not considered part of the MILF and thus not covered by any ceasefire agreement.
The MILF disassociated itself from Kato’s renegade group last year and declared him as a “bougat or one who defies or does not obey an order” and engages in lawless actions, Deles said.
With the observance of the 9th National Peace Consciousness Month this September, Deles expressed hope that “utmost goodwill will prevail on the table and that the interests and the welfare of the communities most affected by the conflict will guide the two sides to seek and affirm common grounds when the going gets rough.”
The Peace Month kicked off last Sunday with the theme: “1Goal for Peace.”
The Mindanao armed conflict has been there for 40 years now, preventing full economic development in the region.
Deles said that “the time for peace is now” as she called on the Filipinos to rally behind the “gains of the peace process” over the past 16 years.
She stressed that the peace process being pursued by government “would achieve more milestones if more Filipinos will support it.” (PNA)