Peace adviser Teresita Deles
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 14, 2012) – Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles expressed optimism that the ongoing government peace negotiations with the Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front would yield positive results.
Peace negotiators are currently holding talks in Malaysia in an effort to strike a deal that would put an end to decades of strife in Mindanao .
“We all know the GPH-MILF peace table is reaching the substantive stage. The three-day peace negotiations will be very hard discussions. So let’s accompany them,” Deles said.
“We want to have good news announced at the end of the talks so we can sustain gains in the peace table, move forward, and draw near to achieving a political solution to the decades-old armed conflict. There are numerous challenges in the different fronts of governance. Nevertheless, we are hoping that tuwid na daan (straight path) will continue to guide us. It is the only way to achieve peace,” Deles said.
“Tuwid na daan” is President Benigno Aquino’s battle cry in his campaign for reforms and anti-corruption drive in government.
Deles have reiterated that the Aquino administration hopes to forge a peace agreement with the MILF before the middle of the President’s term in 2013. “The President aims not only to sign within his term but also to implement and assess signed peace agreements and not pass it to the next administration,” she said.
“Amidst challenges and difficulties, the peace process needs deep understanding, faith, and faithful accompaniment from all sectors including the religious, business or private, and civil society,” she added.
In January, both peace panels ended talks with both sides agreeing on some substantive issues – the concept of governance and the listing of reserved powers of the national government as contained in their respective draft.
The MILF also expressed optimism that the negotiations would resolve the “stickiest points.”
Chief government peace negotiator Marvic Leonen said the government wanted to sign a peace deal with the MILF so it can pursue peace and development efforts in Mindanao .
“The legacy that all of us in this room wish to participate in is to facilitate an agreement that will not only make peace possible, it is also an agreement that should bring in the possibility of making peace permanent.”
“To do this, we have to acknowledge what is real, what is practicable under the circumstances; hence to build foundations within present grounds inspired with our most passionate ideals,” Leonen said in Malaysia
“We propose that in this round of talks, we focus once more on the substantive issues and explore common grounds. We acknowledge that the issues that we tackle now are the more difficult ones but we are optimistic that we can find mutually viable solutions. Let us redouble our efforts to conclude these negotiations in the soonest possible time,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
20