MAGUINDANAO (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 9, 2013) – The Moro National Liberation Front and the Philippine government are expected top organize a so-called Third Party Monitoring Team which would monitor, review and assess the implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and all other signed agreements between the two groups.
Jun Mantawil, who heads the Secretariat of the MILF peace panel, said the monitoring team will be composed of 7 members and headed by an international eminent person and that two others may be appointed as well.
He said two other members will be from international nongovernmental organizations, one to be nominated by the Philippine government and another by the MILF. And those are on top of two members from a local nongovernmental organizations and one to be nominated by the Philippine government and the other by the MILF.
“All members are to be mutually decided,” he said.
Mantawil said the MILF is seriously considering someone from Europe to head the TPMT, but added that the MILF will most likely nominate one Muslim eminent person and at least one from the international Muslim NGO who is active in the resolution of global conflicts.
The Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro which was signed by the MILF and the Aquino government would create the Bangsamoro autonomous region that would replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and cities of Marawi and Lamitan.
The MILF is fighting for self-determination in the southern Philippines.
President Benigno Aquino is set to make a historic visit next week to the MILF in Maguindanao province in an effort to further hasten the peace talks with the Muslim rebel group.
Aquino will meet with rebel leaders and inspect government projects in the largely Muslim province.
In August 2011, Aquino secretly met with the secluded MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim in Tokyo, Japan along with their peace negotiators and both agreed to pursue the peace talks in an efforts to end decades of violence and conflict in Mindanao.
Last year, Ebrahim was invited by Aquino to the Presidential Palace for the signing of the Bangsamoro accord. (Mindanao Examiner)
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