Esperon says talks with MILF moving
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:53:00 07/05/2008
DAVAO CITY – President Macapagal-Arroyo’s chief peace adviser Friday said an agreement was likely to be signed in September to iron out kinks on the issue of territory that was keeping peace talks with Moro guerrillas from moving forward.
Hermogenes Esperon, also former Armed Forces chief, said during a briefing at the Mindanao Economic Development Council office here that the government has already presented to the MILF its revised proposal on ancestral domain.
The original proposal was rejected by the rebel group because of the government’s position that the future of the Moro territory hinged on results of a plebiscite.
The MILF eventually pulled out of the negotiating table while accusing the government of insincerity.
Ms Arroyo, during a visit here, said the revised proposal was the product of deliberation among concerned government officials.
She did not elaborate but Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, Esperon’s predecessor, said the new draft agreement is an improved version of the old one.
Esperon said representatives from Kuala Lumpur, which is brokering the talks, have witnessed the submission of the new government proposal on June 23 and the MILF has already submitted its counter-proposal.
“It is possible we could sign something in September. It depends on how fast we are moving,” Esperon said.
Esperon said issues on freedom, jurisdiction and control over resources, and on the institution and organizational structure of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity are the three contentious issues in talks covering ancestral domain.
But while he was optimistic about the signing of agreement on ancestral domain, Esperon said there is still uncertainty about how the BJE should operate.
“There are things we need to prepare next week and give some pronouncements if we can get the approval of the President,” he said.
“The latest development signals that the peace talks will formally resume in the coming days,” he said.
Esperon also downplayed recent skirmishes in some parts of Mindanao saying there were efforts being made to prevent these from getting out of control.
The MILF has announced it has already sanctioned its commanders, who were responsible for the series of violence this month.
But Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, did not say what the specific sanctions were and to whom these were meted out.
“Our forces have been reprimanded for their acts,” Iqbal said.
He said the MILF leadership “imposed sanctions (to commanders) and let them pay (for) the consequences of their acts.”
During the past days, MILF rebels staged attacks in Sarangani, North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan provinces.
Several people were killed in the attacks. Judy Quiros, Rizalene P. Acac, Edwin Fernandez with a report from Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao
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