Government panel to submit proposal for peace talks with MILF

Manila, Philippines - The government peace panel is set to submit its proposal for a politically negotiated settlement to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the next round of formal exploratory talks on June 27-28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Government chief peace negotiator professor Marvic Leonen announced this during the recently held consultation held by the government with officials of Tawi-Tawi.

The provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu are part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is included in the MILF’s proposed sub-state.

The MILF has been pushing for the creation of a Bangsamoro sub-state including the ARMM.

Leonen said some 20 local officials from Tawi-Tawi attended the consultation held to provide updates on the ongoing peace talks between the government and the MILF.

The consultation was held at the Provincial Capitol in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. Accompanying Leonen were panel members Senen Bacani, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and consultant Hamid Barra.

They were joined by Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul A. Sahali, Vice Gov. Ruby M. Sahali, chair of the government Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) Brig. Gen. Ariel Bernardo; head of the CCCH secretariat Maj. Carlos Sol, and senior military adviser Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar.

Sahali welcomed the conduct of the consultations and urged his fellow officials to contribute ideas on how to attain peace in Mindanao.

“We are deeply honored and esteemed by your presence in Tawi-Tawi to hold a consultation in order to get the views of local officials on how to work for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao and in the whole country,” Sahali said. “We always dream for peace in Mindanao. If there’s peace, then there’s development.”

To date, the panel has already conducted 31 consultations with different sectors in Mindanao.

Former government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III, meanwhile, said the achievement of a peace pact between the government and the communist National Democratic Front will usher more positive developments.

The NDF had proposed to defer peace talks and demanded the release of some of its consultants who it claimed were covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles said the NDF stance was “most unfortunate.” – With Raymund Catindig