Gov't, Muslim rebels close to signing comprehensive peace pact: official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, are moving closer towards the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles made the statement as the Philippines is set to celebrate the 10th National Peace Consciousness Month in September that aims to promote a culture of peace and raise awareness and understanding among the public on the comprehensive peace process.

"The peace month is also a time to celebrate the milestones we have achieved in the peace process. For one, we are inching closer towards signing a Comprehensive Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front," she said.

Deles said that the government and the MILF have already completed two of the four annexes to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), and the two parties are discussing the remaining annexes about normalization and power sharing. These four annexes, together with the FAB, will constitute the Comprehensive Agreement which the parties aim to sign within the year.

The government and the MILF negotiators are slated to meet in September to resume their discussions on the remaining annexes.

The comprehensive agreement aims to create a Bangsamoro government that will replace the existing Autonmous Region in Muslim Mindanao and put an end to over four-decade armed conflict in southern Philippines.