REBEL.....This
file photo taken on September 19, 2009 shows a member of the southern
Philippine rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), holding a
rocket propelled grenade launcher (RPG) as he stands guard at Camp Darapanan in
the town of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao province, on Mindanao island.
By : MICHAEL LIM UBAC
MANILA, Philippines : The
largest Moro secessionist group in Mindanao will sign on Monday in Malacañang a preliminary peace deal with
the Aquino administration, which will set in motion a three-year process that
would eventually carve out a new autonomous territory called Bangsamoro.
Despite the expected absence
of Moro leader Nur Misuari, it’s all systems go for the signing of the
framework agreement for Bangsamoro between the Aquino administration and the
12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Under the framework, the
MILF agrees to a “phased” disarmament of its forces until full autonomy is
achieved by 2016.
Not leaving anything to
chance, Malacañang officials held on Sunday, at 3 p.m., a walkthrough of the
signing ceremony, which was attended by Presidential Peace Process Adviser
Teresita Deles herself and other Cabinet members.
Among the first foreign
dignitaries to arrive on Sunday, was Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The Palace will accord Razak
arrival honors and an expanded bilateral meeting with President Benigno Aquino
III will happen at 10 a.m. on Monday, ahead of the afternoon signing of the
Bangsamoro deal.
Razak joins other foreign
dignitaries, including the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, Ekmeleddin Ishanoglu, in witnessing the signing between the two
peace panel chairs, chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen and MILF’s
Mohagher Iqbal.
Ishanoglu’s presence would
signify the Islamic world’s recognition of the legitimacy of the accord, Palace
said.
Neither President Aquino nor
MILF chair Al Haj Murad will sign the 13-page document.
Malacañang doesn’t expect
Misuari, leader of a faction of the MILF’s rival, the Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF), to show up at Malacañang for the 1:30 p.m. signing, but an
invitation has been extended to him.
In a radio interview on
Sunday, Deles confirmed that the Aquino administration had been reaching out to
him, but Misuari had rejected even an offer to sit on the 15-person Transition
Commission that would draft the basic law creating Bangsamoro.
Deles called on Misuari to
listen to the voice of the Bangsamoro people amid what appeared to be an
overwhelming support for the deal aimed at finally putting an end to the
40-year conflict in the troubled parts of the south.
The deal serves as a road
map for replacing the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),
which President Aquino has described as a “failed experiment.”
Deles explained that the
most important signing ceremony in decades would involve no theatrics.
“No. Direct to the point. We
don’t want to be distracted. I think the ceremony, the fact of the signing
itself, is enough. It has enough drama and historical significance in itself,
so we will no longer add anything to it,” she said.
Misuari has been attacking
the accord that will supersede the peace agreement signed in 1996 between the
Ramos administration and his MNLF.
“As of this day, Misuari
doesn’t want to accept this (Bangsamoro deal), but we continually hope that he
would eventually see the groundswell of support” from Moros themselves, said
Deles.
Deles disclosed that other
MNLF leaders had already expressed support for the peace deal.
“And we told our facilitator
that what we want is not to leave behind the MNLF; we will not set aside the
1996 Final Peace Agreement (with the MNLF),” said Deles, hoping that the
Misuari faction would still nominate someone to sit on the Transition
Commission.
Malacañang will not only
open its gates but roll out the red carpet, as well, for leaders of both the
MILF and MNLF, and foreign dignitaries attending the signing Monday.
Some 200 MILF rebels are
also coming to the Palace to witness the signing of the agreement.
The MNLF officials will be
led by Muslimin Sema, chair of the Council of 15 that split from Misuari’s
faction in 2001; ARMM Vice Governor Hadja Bainon; former Governor Yusuf Jukiri
of Sulu; and former Assemblyman Hatimil Hassan, among others.
In all, Palace expects some
450 guests to attend the signing ceremony.
After the signing, which
will be witnessed by the President, Razak and OIC secretary general, Leonen and
Iqbal will hold a joint press briefing.
Asked in a radio interview,
on Sunday, to describe Monday’s event, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigal
Valte said: “It’s very unique. Certainly historic, to say the least.”
She said the Palace has been
“very hopeful,” noting that “both sides are committed to giving peace a chance,
to give hope a chance to flourish.”
“We will keep to the basics
and we will keep it as solemn as possible,” said Valte, when asked to elaborate
on preparations for the ceremony.
Valte acknowledged the
arrival in Manila on Sunday afternoon of a 50-car caravan of peace advocates
from Mindanao that symbolized the support of the Bangsamoro people to the
inking of a preliminary peace accord with the MILF.
The caravan consisting of
peace advocates from Cotabato, Marawi, Maguindanao and Davao City is set to
hold a vigil on Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang on the eve of the signing.
When asked about the
significance of the Bangsamoro deal compared to the 1996 accord, Deles sent a
text message, saying: “This will be fully implemented.”
She agreed that this would
be a big step towards achieving lasting peace in Mindanao, pointing to the
“overflowing support from Bangsamoro” for the deal.
Deles further said that the
scope of the Bangsamoro territory would not be part of the yet-to-be-negotiated
annexes since the proposed areas for inclusion was already mentioned in the
text of the accord.
“Same core territory—five
provinces currently under ARMM, six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and
several barangays in North Cotabato—all adjacent and voted to be part of the
ARMM kaya in 2001. (They) will be asked again (to vote in a plebiscite),” she
said.
According to Deles, it’s
logical to include Cotabato City and Isabela City in the Bangsamoro territory
since the former is the current capital of ARMM, while the latter is part of
Basilan, which is already part of ARMM.
“No more annexes; there is
no hidden list of areas to be covered (by Bangsamoro),” she said, adding:
“Our real message is let’s
give peace a chance. (Negotiating) this Framework Agreement was not easy.
Signing it is setting a roadmap to end the four decades of hostilities with the
MILF. We all know that this deal doesn’t end at signing,” she said.
“All of these (provisions in
the agreement) can be delivered within his (Aquino) term, so we continue to ask
from the people—give peace a chance—and continue their support and prayers,”
Deles added. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
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