COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2012) – Philippine and Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace negotiators resumed talks on Monday in Kuala Lumpur in a effort to further discuss issues on power-sharing and wealth-sharing in the proposed Muslim homeland.
Government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen underscored the overwhelming global acceptance of the signing of the accord in Malacanang. President Benigno Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak witnessed the signing of the agreement.
“Truly, we have ushered in an era of hope, peace, recovery and hopefully a better trajectory to be able to realize genuine social justice in our country,” Leonen said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
Leonen said the work of the TWGs in threshing out the annexes on power-sharing, wealth-sharing and normalization would be easier given the positive reception to the FAB. The annexes will be part of the GPH-MILF Comprehensive Peace Agreement both parties expect to forge before the end of the year.
“Our work on the annexes takes place within this umbrella of hope. I am certain that both of us will try to find solutions in order to complete the Comprehensive Agreement, preferably in this round. All of us now are part of history, let us work together some more to make that history truly matter,” he said.
MILF negotiating panel chair Mohagher Iqbal also expressed confidence that the task of threshing out the annexes “rests on the technical working groups.”
“The spirit of compromise is still very strong. I believe we can settle all the issues,” Iqbal said.
Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed, however, cautioned both panels that “the world is watching” as he echoed the observation of Leonen that the signing of the FAB generated massive popular support from the international community.
The Philippine government said the accord sets the principles, processes and mechanisms for the transition leading to the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with Bangsamoro.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles earlier said that the ongoing 33rd round of talks in Kuala Lumpur was expected to be “difficult as both parties will be fleshing out the annexes on power-sharing, wealth-sharing and normalization.”
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