by OPPAP
Kuala Lumpur,
Aug. 24 – As the 22nd formal exploratory talks between the Government of the
Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) came to a close
on Tuesday, GPH panel chair Marvic Leonen underscored the government’s
principled, realistic and practical approach to bring peace and uplift lives in
Mindanao.
Leonen, who is currently in the Malaysian capital, held a press briefing attended by foreign journalists based in Kuala Lumpur and beamed through video conferencing technology to the press in Malacañan Palace. Joining him were panel members Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Ramon Piang, Sr., Senen Bacani and panel consultant Hamid Barra. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, on the other hand, was present in the Malacañan briefing room.
The panel chair said that the proposal, follows a comprehensive "3 for 1" approach or "three components for one solution to the Bangsamoro problem," seeking to not just bring peace but more importantly improve the lives of the people and communities in the troubled south who have "long suffered from the brutality of decades-long armed conflict."
According to Leonen, the "3 for 1" approach includes components, such as massive economic development, political settlement with the MILF, and cultural-historical acknowledgment. It resulted from the GPH panel’s extensive consultations with various sectors in Mindanao.
On the component of massive economic development, he related that the government will pursue the transformation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). This will entail a “massive program of social services and economic development” that will “prepare the people and strengthen foundations.”
“The objective of such is to break the cycle of poverty in the ARMM, so that people are actually empowered to undertake economic activities that benefit themselves and their communities in order to achieve real progress,” Leonen stated, stressing that the government is ready to partner with the MILF to deliver, implement and monitor social services and economic development in their areas.
The second component of the “3 for 1” proposal is political settlement or peace accord which “focuses more on the do-ables in the short term rather than dwell on contentious and divisive issues whose solutions may take a longer time to address.”
Leonen explained that under this component is the proposed creation of a Bangsamoro Commission that will supervise the implementation of the peace pact. This will be composed of the government, the MILF and the stakeholders in the Mindanao peace process.
The third component, the panel chair said, is the cultural-historical acknowledgment that “corrects historical narratives and fosters appreciation of different cultures borne out of the struggles of all Filipinos including those of Bangsamoro identity."
MILF panel response
Leonen related that the MILF panel accepted and examined the government proposal on Monday evening.
“Last night, the MILF studied the proposal and decided to advise the GPH this morning that it would be advising its Central Committee to reject the proposal. However, the MILF panel did not return the document. They said they needed the document to show the Central Committee for their decision.”
Despite the MILF panel’s response, Leonen acknowledged the situation as normal. “It is not unusual in negotiations that one of the parties take a hard-line position on the contents of the initial documents of another party.”
Kato, in fighting within MILF
The GPH panel brought up the issue of Ustadz Ameril Umbta Kato, his MILF splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and the 17 rido (clan feud) incidents that involved at least an MILF commander.
Leonen stated that the MILF Central Committee has declared Kato as “bougat or one who defies or does not obey an order.”
“They (MILF) have asked that we give them 10 days after Eid’l Fitr to settle the Kato issue,” he said.
Leonen added that the government is now considering Kato as not part of the MILF anymore. “He is no longer covered by ceasefire arrangements. Therefore, the usual legal arrangements will apply in his steed.”
On BLMI
Likewise included in the agenda of the GPH-MILF peace talks was the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI), which is a mechanism, proposed by the MILF during past negotiations, that intends to train young Moro leaders to lead and manage in the future.
On this, Leonen said that the GPH panel turned over to their MILF counterparts a check worth P 5 million for the continuous establishment of the BLMI, as instructed by President Aquino.
Next steps
After the talks, the GPH panel will continue its consultations with different sectors to explain the government proposal and get feedback. “It will be an exploratory and consultative process in order to ensure that the voices of the different stakeholders will be well-represented in the crafting of a final peace accord.”
“We are going to report to the President, await his instructions and his mandate,” he added.
Leonen, who is currently in the Malaysian capital, held a press briefing attended by foreign journalists based in Kuala Lumpur and beamed through video conferencing technology to the press in Malacañan Palace. Joining him were panel members Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Ramon Piang, Sr., Senen Bacani and panel consultant Hamid Barra. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, on the other hand, was present in the Malacañan briefing room.
The panel chair said that the proposal, follows a comprehensive "3 for 1" approach or "three components for one solution to the Bangsamoro problem," seeking to not just bring peace but more importantly improve the lives of the people and communities in the troubled south who have "long suffered from the brutality of decades-long armed conflict."
According to Leonen, the "3 for 1" approach includes components, such as massive economic development, political settlement with the MILF, and cultural-historical acknowledgment. It resulted from the GPH panel’s extensive consultations with various sectors in Mindanao.
On the component of massive economic development, he related that the government will pursue the transformation of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). This will entail a “massive program of social services and economic development” that will “prepare the people and strengthen foundations.”
“The objective of such is to break the cycle of poverty in the ARMM, so that people are actually empowered to undertake economic activities that benefit themselves and their communities in order to achieve real progress,” Leonen stated, stressing that the government is ready to partner with the MILF to deliver, implement and monitor social services and economic development in their areas.
The second component of the “3 for 1” proposal is political settlement or peace accord which “focuses more on the do-ables in the short term rather than dwell on contentious and divisive issues whose solutions may take a longer time to address.”
Leonen explained that under this component is the proposed creation of a Bangsamoro Commission that will supervise the implementation of the peace pact. This will be composed of the government, the MILF and the stakeholders in the Mindanao peace process.
The third component, the panel chair said, is the cultural-historical acknowledgment that “corrects historical narratives and fosters appreciation of different cultures borne out of the struggles of all Filipinos including those of Bangsamoro identity."
MILF panel response
Leonen related that the MILF panel accepted and examined the government proposal on Monday evening.
“Last night, the MILF studied the proposal and decided to advise the GPH this morning that it would be advising its Central Committee to reject the proposal. However, the MILF panel did not return the document. They said they needed the document to show the Central Committee for their decision.”
Despite the MILF panel’s response, Leonen acknowledged the situation as normal. “It is not unusual in negotiations that one of the parties take a hard-line position on the contents of the initial documents of another party.”
Kato, in fighting within MILF
The GPH panel brought up the issue of Ustadz Ameril Umbta Kato, his MILF splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and the 17 rido (clan feud) incidents that involved at least an MILF commander.
Leonen stated that the MILF Central Committee has declared Kato as “bougat or one who defies or does not obey an order.”
“They (MILF) have asked that we give them 10 days after Eid’l Fitr to settle the Kato issue,” he said.
Leonen added that the government is now considering Kato as not part of the MILF anymore. “He is no longer covered by ceasefire arrangements. Therefore, the usual legal arrangements will apply in his steed.”
On BLMI
Likewise included in the agenda of the GPH-MILF peace talks was the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI), which is a mechanism, proposed by the MILF during past negotiations, that intends to train young Moro leaders to lead and manage in the future.
On this, Leonen said that the GPH panel turned over to their MILF counterparts a check worth P 5 million for the continuous establishment of the BLMI, as instructed by President Aquino.
Next steps
After the talks, the GPH panel will continue its consultations with different sectors to explain the government proposal and get feedback. “It will be an exploratory and consultative process in order to ensure that the voices of the different stakeholders will be well-represented in the crafting of a final peace accord.”
“We are going to report to the President, await his instructions and his mandate,” he added.
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