COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 1, 2014)- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is negotiating peace with Manila the past 17 years expressed optimism that it would be able to sign a comprehensive accord this year.
“Within the first quarter of this year, the parties must sign the comprehensive peace agreement to enable the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to finish the final draft of the Bangsamoro basic law for submission to President Benigno Aquino, who will certify it as an urgent bill, in order to give just enough time for Congress to pass it into law,” the MILF said on its website.
It said 2014 is a crucial year for the peace talks.
The MILF stressed the need to forge the peace deal in the first quarter of the year because the Bangsamoro basic law should be ratified by the people in the Bangsamoro territory preferably towards the end of this year or early 2015 to pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.
The peace negotiations is expected to resume this month following the signing of the annex on power-sharing in December in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both sides also signed the annexes on transitional arrangements and modalities, and revenue generation and wealth-sharing.
Still up for discussions are the annex on normalization and an addendum on the issues of Bangsamoro waters in order to complete the peace accord.
The MILF said the peace accord “is not just a piece of paper but will contain principles likely on how the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is going to be abolished, the conduct of the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro basic law and the manner of amending the Constitution, if necessary.
The rebel group said although it is optimistic with the peace process, the “road ahead would still be rough.”
“[But] we are still very hopeful and upbeat that the two parties will finally settle all the remaining issues in the negotiating table. Two sincere, willing, and committed partners, like the Aquino administration and the MILF, will always find ways to overcome any issue that stands on their way. This has been proved by them time and again,” it said.
In a recent statement, the Philippine peace panel said all of the accomplishments in the peace process were made possible through the collective efforts, trust, and goodwill of both parties and their respective principals, and the unwavering support of various sectors to push the process forward. (Wally Dar)
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