'Difficult issues' at 28th GPH-MILF peace talks in Kuala Lumpur

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- The Aquino administration expects "difficult issues that will test the will and patience" of both negotiating panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during the start of the 28th formal peace talks in Kuala Lumpur Monday.

“The government panel goes to Kuala Lumpur having undergone intensive preparations for the substantive agenda which are on the table. These are difficult issues which may test the will and patience of the two parties,” presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said.

"We pray for the two panels to be able to bridge the gaps between common grounds towards the peace our people have long desired and which our country badly needs to achieve lasting progress," Deles added.

Deles said the government is hopeful this week's round of formal talks "will be able to build on the gains established with the signing of the Decision Points on Principles (DPP) during the April meeting.”

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, for his part, said he expects a "rough sailing" in the talks.

The government is expected to present the outcome of several consultations with key stakeholders, including senators and other Mindanao lawmakers, on the DPP which includes the creation of a new autonomous political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

On May 17, Deles along with government chief negotiator Marvic Leonen and other government panel members, consulted several senators on the DPP which will serve as the framework for the final peace agreement with the MILF.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile led the group, along with Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation chairman Teofisto Guingona III, and committee members Panfilo Lacson, Gregorio Honasan II, Francis Pangilinan, Edgardo Angara, Franklin Drilon, and Aquilino Pimentel III.

The DPP would require a new law to amend the ARMM Organic Act as well as a plebiscite among the residents in the areas to be covered by the future autonomous political entity.

Based on the decision points signed last month, the future political entity will have a “ministerial form of government.”

The powers that would be reserved for the national government are as follows: defense and external security; foreign policy; common market and global trade; coinage and monetary policy; citizenship and naturalization; and postal service.

The power to enter into economic agreements, however, shall be transferred to the new political entity.

Both sides also agreed that the future autonomous entity must be given the power to “create its own sources of revenue and to have a just share in the revenues generated through the exploration, development, or utilization of natural resources.”

The political entity shall also have the powers over the Shariah justice system.

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