New political entity to replace ARMM tackled in Kuala Lumpur peace talks

MANILA, Philippines—The negotiating panels of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have declared as successful the latest round of peace talks that ended on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur.

In a joint statement signed by panel chairs Marvic Leonen for the government and Mohagher Iqbal for the MILF, the two sides expressed confidence about completing the discussions on a new political entity to take the place of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The 29th round of exploratory talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) successfully ended (Wednesday) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with both sides expressing confidence in wrapping up discussions on mechanisms towards the realization of a new political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as contained in the April 2012 GPH-MILF Decision Points on Principles,” read the joint statement as released by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

“The parties continued discussions on power-sharing and other related matters, and agreed to meet in August 2012,” the statement added.

The two panels thanked President Aquino “for his commitment to a just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak “for his continued support in the facilitation of the GPH-MILF peace talks”, and the MILF Central Committee headed by Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim “for its continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Bangsamoro Question.”