Gov’t, MILF peace panels return to KL for ‘difficult’ part of framework agreement

Presidential peace adviser Secretary Teresita Deles: Now for the difficult part. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Nearly a month after the signing of a landmark peace deal, the peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Monday went back to the negotiating table in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to start the discussion on the annexes of the framework agreement for  Bangsamoro.

Presidential peace adviser Secretary Teresita Deles admitted that the latest round of talks would be “difficult” as both panels will tackle the sensitive issues on power-sharing, wealth-sharing and “normalization” in Mindanao.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF negotiating panel chairman, shared the optimism of government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen that both panels would be able to find common grounds in drafting the annexes that would form part of the comprehensive peace agreement that the government and the MILF would ink within the year.

“Truly, we have ushered in an era of hope, peace, recovery and hopefully a better trajectory to be able to realize genuine social justice in our country,” Leonen said in his opening statement at the 33rd round of talks.

The government chief negotiator said the tasks of the technical working groups of the government and MILF panels would be “easier given the positive reception” of the framework agreement.

“Our work on the annexes takes place within this umbrella of hope,” he said in his speech, a copy of which was provided by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

“I am certain that both of us will try to find solutions in order to complete the Comprehensive Agreement, preferably in this round. All of us now are part of history. Let us work together some more to make that history truly matter.”

MILF and government representatives signed the historic framework agreement in Malacañang last October 15 in the presence of President Aquino, MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

The initial peace deal set into motion the eventual abolition of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which would be replaced by a new political entity called Bangsamoro.

Saying the drafting of the annexes was now up to the members of the technical working groups, Iqbal said the “spirit of compromise is still very strong” between the government and MILF peace panels.

“I believe we can settle all the issues,” Iqbal added.

Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed reminded both panels that “the world is watching” as he supported Leonen’s observation that the signing of the framework agreement enjoyed the support of the international community.