‘No time to lose’ in 43rd GPH-MILF talks

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Updated) – “We can’t afford to lose more time at the expense of the bigger task of implementation.”

With these words, Philippine government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer opened the 43rd round of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday, January 22. Malaysia is serving as the third-party facilitator to the talks. 

For the 43rd – and what the panels and stakeholders hope to be the last – round of talks, the parties are expected to sign the annex on normalization and the addendum on Bangsamoro waters. These are the last two documents needed to be completed before the comprehensive peace agreement can be signed. (READ: Gov’t, MILF hope to seal firearms deal)

The word “expectation” weighed heavily on the negotiators and observers present at the state room of the Palace of the Golden Horses, which has been the venue of the GPH-MILF peace talks under the Aquino administration. 

“This early, as expected, the impending success of the talks is getting many ‘relatives’ because succes is relative, nay many ‘fathers,'” Iqbal said. “There are more people supporting MILF and declaring oneness within rather than joining spoilers.”

Despite the anticipation for the expected signing of a peace pact soon, Iqbal would rather take the final stretch of the talks with a cautious approach. 

In his opening statement, Iqbal stressed the signing of the comprehensive peace pact is only the first step towards lasting peace in Mindanao.. 

“We must caution that the final destination is not within immediate reach yet. The signing of the comprehensive agreement is not the end of the odyssey. Let’s remember that we will only formally terminate this peace process through the exit agreement when the two parties successfully fulfill the implementation,” Iqbal said. 

Bill to establish Bangsamoro to be completed by April  

The peace panels hope to install the ministerial Bangsamoro government and replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) before the Aquino administration ends in 2016. 

“We can not afford to lose more time at the expense of the bigger task of implementation and or the considerable progress we’ve already gained,” Ferrer said. “The time to conclude the formal exploratory talks is now. Let us enable the process to move forward 100% to the next stage of implementation.”

To provide the legal framework for the new institution, a new Basic Law must be passed in Congress. 

Iqbal, who is also the chairman of the 15-member Transition Commission presently drafting the Basic Law, said the team has set an April deadline for the completion of the draft. 

The proposed law will be certified as urgent by the President when it is submitted to Congress. 

Also expected to grace this round of talks are lawmakers, including senators TG Guingona and Koko Pimentel, as well as representatives Jim Hataman Saliman, Jesus Sacdalan, Teddy Baguilat Jr, Pangalian Balindong.

In addition to the landmark Framework Agreement signed in October 2012, both sides earlier signed deals on how power and wealth will be shared between the central government and the Bangsamoro political entity.

Welcoming both sides to this round of talks, Malaysian Facilitator Tengku Datu Abdul Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed said “each annex is an agreement in itself.”

For the government, Tengku said the task has always been to consider all sides while for the MILF, the challenge is to sign a comprehensive peace agreement that will be acceptable to the public. 

– Rappler.com