PH-MILF talks in Malaysia ‘ends on positive note’

MANILA, Philippines—The exploratory talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Malaysia ended on a positive note Tuesday, both parties said.

In a joint statement, the government and the MILF said both parties signed the GPH-MILF Decision Points on Principles, which shall serve as the guidelines for the discussion on the substantive agenda of the negotiations.

In their agreement, both parties agreed on the following:

• The parties recognize Bangsamoro identity and the legitimate grievances and claims of the Bangsamoro people.
• The parties agree that the status quo is unacceptable and that the parties will work for the creation of a new autonomous political entity in place of the ARMM.
• The parties agree to the continuity of negotiations in the context of agreed documents.
• The parties agree that the new autonomous political entity shall have a ministerial form of government.

The parties agree to the need for a transition period and the institution of transitional mechanisms in order to implement the provisions of the agreement.

There will be power-sharing and wealth-sharing between the national government and the new political entity. In the matter of power sharing, the national government will have its reserved powers, the new political entity will have its exclusive powers, and there will be concurrent powers shared by the national government and the new political entity.

“This preliminary list does not contain all points so far agreed upon and does not preclude future agreed on other key points,” the GPH and MILF said in their statement.

The agreement was signed on the 27th round of the exploratory talks between both parties, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

GPH panel chairman Marivic Leonen and his counterpart in the MILF, Mohagher Iqbal, signed the agreement in the presence of Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed.—Katherine Evangelista