Government to negotiate holding of tripartite meet in RP

The government peace panel will push for the holding of the tripartite meeting of the Philippines, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in the country, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The official, who declined to be named, also said detained Muslim leader Nur Misuari may attend the tripartite meeting if it is held in the country or if the court allows it.

Misuari, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is under house arrest in New Manila, Quezon City for rebellion charges.

The DFA official said the Philippines would raise the matter of having the tripartite meeting here in preparatory talks with the OIC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia this month.

Sayyed Kassem el-Masry, an Egyptian diplomat and adviser to the OIC secretary general, was expected to arrive in the country this week to finalize details of the preliminary meeting, but had to cancel his flight for medical reasons. Diplomatic sources said el-Masry would have met with Misuari had his Manila visit pushed through.

"We will wait for the court decision. It is possible he will be allowed to participate in the tripartite meeting if it will be held in the Philippines," the official said.

Last month, the government said it could not guarantee Misuari’s attendance in the tripartite meeting because of pending rebellion charges against him.

The government maintained that the OIC Committee of Eight, which is tasked to monitor the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF, should play a lead role in the tripartite meeting.

"There’s no formal link with the OIC because we are not a member. And we are not an observer," another source said.

The government agreed to the holding a tripartite meeting but made clear it would focus on the implementation of the second phase of the peace agreement. The government also maintained that the MNLF should represent all factions during the meeting.

In the meeting, sources said the government will also discuss the Feb. 3 hostage-taking incident involving an MNLF faction led by Commander Habier Malik and government peace panel representatives led by Marine Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino in Camp Habanpuod, Panamao, Jolo, Sulu.

The peace panel representatives were released after the MNLF was assured that the tripartite meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia would push through. – Pia Lee-Brago