Malaysia stays as third party facilitator of talks with MILF

MANILA, Philippines - Malaysia will remain as the third party facilitator in the government’s peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Malacañang said.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said status quo would be maintained in relation to the issue of third party facilitator of the peace talks.

Lacierda said it would be difficult to replace Malaysia at this point.

“What we have been informed of is Malaysia is still the third party negotiator,” Lacierda told a media briefing at Malacañang.

Kuala Lumpur has been hosting negotiations between Manila and the MILF since March 2001 in a bid to end the decades-old secessionist conflict in southern Philippines.

The MILF was worried that the Aquino administration might remove Malaysia as third party facilitator of the peace talks.

Last Monday, President Aquino said he had heeded the advice of his peace advisers to retain Malaysia to avoid any delays in the talks.

Malacañang said the five-man government peace panel headed by UP law dean Marvic Leonen has already been formed to talk peace with the MILF.

The names of the four other members have been withheld pending a formal announcement from Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles.

The President earlier announced that the peace talks with the MILF would resume after the celebration of Ramadan that would end by the second week of September.

MILF information committee chief Muhaquer Iqbal said they are ready to talk with the government once a final date is announced.

“It’s the government and the MILF that has to decide, based on agreed protocol procedure, on the date of the peace talks, with the concurrence of Malaysia as facilitator,” said Iqbal, who previously headed the MILF panel in the peace talks.

Iqbal, however, said he has no idea if the MILF would retain him in the peace panel.

But he said the MILF wanted Malaysia to continue its role as facilitator of the peace talks.

Only through bilateral agreement “in black and white” can the government and the MILF replace Malaysia as facilitator of the peace talks.

“The MILF wants Malaysia to remain as facilitator of the peace talks,” he said.

Iqbal said it is most ideal to resume with the peace talks after the Ramadan since Malaysia is an Islamic state with most Malaysian government officials observing the fasting period.

MILF chief Murad Ebrahim expressed optimism that a peace pact will be reached under the Aquino administration.

“We hope to achieve what we failed to achieve during the administrations of former President Ramos, President Estrada and President Arroyo,” said Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs.

Meanwhile, business leaders urged Aquino to allow them to have a direct role in the peace negotiations with the MILF.

They issued this call in a resolution at the end of the 6th Zambopen (Zamboanga Peninsula) Business Conference last week.

The resolution was presented by Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Cholo Soliven to Tourism Secretary Albert Lim. It was signed by 11 other business chambers in the region led by Edgar Bagarinao, chairman of the Zampen Business Council and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry regional governor for Western Mindanao and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 

Soliven said business is the first victim if the peace process breaks down, as this drives investors away.

“Being in the peace panel we can also air our side and ventilate proposals that will be acceptable to both parties,” Soliven said. – With Jaime Laude, John Unson, Roel Pareño and Aurea Calica