MILF sees clearer direction for peace talks

DAVAO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is seeing a clearer direction for the peace negotiations that were stalled anew after an impasse last September due to disagreements on ancestral domain claims.

"More or less mas malinaw na ang direction (the direction is clearer) now that there is already a meeting of the minds with the MILF accepting the new proposal government submitted on ancestral domain," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told The STAR.

However, Kabalu refused to divulge the details of the new proposal government submitted to the MILF last month after the rebel group rejected its initial draft indicating that the expansion of the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) be subjected to constitutional processes to be included in the territory of the proposed Bangsamoro juridical entity.

As proposed, the Bangsamoro juridical entity shall be granted the political, economic and administrative power over Muslim Mindanao, including the power to come up with its own charter and to establish its own security forces.

But the nagging issue on territory in the ancestral domain clause has continued to snag the peace talks even as efforts are being made by both parties to break the impasse soon.

"We are very optimistic that the peace talks would resume soon," said Kabalu. "Hopefully, early next year."

Kabalu said the MILF has just been awaiting advice from the Malaysian government, which hosts the peace talks, when they would resume.

"With the way things are going now, it looks we are headed for the resumption of the peace talks," Kabalu said.

Kabalu said what is important is for the government and MILF panels to reach a final peace agreement that would bring just and lasting peace to the Bangsamoro people.

The issue on ancestral domain claims would remain the main agenda when the two panels return to the negotiating table, he added.