Malaysian premier arrives in Manila ahead of Monday’s signing of framework agreement

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives at Villamor Air Base at suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012. Najib is here for a three-day official visit, the highlight of which is to witness the formal signing of a tentative peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of which Malaysia helped broker. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ

MANILA, Philippines – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and other high-ranking Malaysian officials arrived Sunday afternoon at the Villamor Air Base ahead of the signing Monday of the framework agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

This is the first visit of the Malaysian premier to the Philippines since he became prime minister in 2009.

President Benigno Aquino III, MILF chair Murad Ebrahim, Razak and other high-ranking Malaysian officials, diplomats, representatives of countries represented in the International Contact Group and the International Monitoring Committee and peace advocates will witness the historic ceremony at Malacañang in the afternoon.

The new agreement,  which is seen to end the decades-long Moro insurgency in Mindanao, will be signed for the government by chief negotiator Marvic Leonen and for the MILF by the rebels’ lead negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

MNLF officials, among them Muslimin Sema, chair of the Council of 15 that split from Misuari’s faction in 2001, will be there, too.

In all, 450 guests are expected to attend the signing ceremony, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

The Philippine National Police and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) have begun to tighten security around the Palace.