'Quantum leap' in next government-MILF talks seen

MANILA, Philippines – Government peace panel chairman Marvic Leonen said yesterday he is expecting a “quantum leap” in the government’s next round of talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) next month.

The two sides ended yesterday its 31st formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, confident that a peace agreement could be signed by end of the year.

“What we experienced today and the past few days during this 31st Formal Exploratory Talks comes closest perhaps to what we can consider as problem-solving. The atmosphere, so ably facilitated by Tengku Dato Abdul Ghafar Tengku Mohamed both in the plenary and the technical working groups, was marked by what I would like to call principled collegiality,” Leonen said in his closing remarks.

He said the two panels are now “closest to solving the problem.”

“We have kept to our mandates but found, many times, creative options and agreement on these options,” Leonen said, adding that the two sides are “definitely moving forward.”

“By next meeting, we hope that we not only move forward but find a quantum leap in our negotiations,” he said.

Leonen admitted that both sides are eager to implement some issues that will lead to the most secure and conducive environment for the democratic empowerment of all as well as the betterment or development of all communities.

“We hope that the levels of principled collegiality that our panels and technical working groups have earned will carry on into the next meeting and into the implementing period as well as the advocacy period,” he said.

Leonen and MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal agreed to meet again before the end of September.

Both sides expressed their appreciation to President Aquino for his commitment to a just and lasting peace in Mindanao; to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his continued support in the facilitation of the GPH-MILF peace talks and to the members of the MILF Central Committee headed by chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for their continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Bangsamoro question.