Government panel head Marvic Leonen
The 30th round of exploratory talks between Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) representatives resumed in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, with both parties presenting their technical working groups (TWGs) on power-sharing and wealth-sharing as they entered the last stretch of negotiations.
The TWGs were tasked to delve into the details of power-sharing and wealth-sharing and flesh out issues, with their outputs to be presented to both panels for approval.
Government panel head Marvic Leonen said in his opening statement that negotiations are “proceeding with undeniable momentum,” emphasizing that while both parties were in the last stretch of the negotiations, “the next stages will still be as complex.”
“As we mentioned during the last round of talks, our principals will be confronted with issues that will require difficult decisions. And I am sure that our principals will be willing to make them and communicate them through us so that we can both work on these concerns,” he said.
A sign of progress
For his part, MILF panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal urged his government counterpart to “persevere,” saying that he “expects every sort of obstacle and complication… [as the] bargaining becomes more intense in the final stage.”
Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed noted that the creation of the TWGs of both parties was a “sign of progress” in the 15-year negotiations.
On the government side, panel member Miriam Coronel-Ferrer will head the working group on power-sharing. Joining her are Upi, Maguindanao, mayor and alternate panel member Ramon Piang, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Attorney General Jose Lorena, and Office of Political Affairs Undersecretary and 1986 Constitutional Commission member Chito Gascon.
Panel member Senen Bacani will head the TWG on wealth-sharing with panel member Yasmin Busran-Lao as adviser. Joining them are Department of Environment and National Resources Assistant Secretary Anselmo Abungan and National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Lim.
Kato’s lawless group
On the MILF side, Dr. Habib Macaayong will lead the working group on power-sharing with Ustadz Anwar Sirad and professor Ali Ayuib as members. Their working group on wealth-sharing will be led by Dr. Benjamin Domato with Dr. Mahid Macalingkang and Archie Buayah as members.
Both parties slammed the recent attacks by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFF-BIFM) on several military installations in Maguindanao and the municipality of Midsayap, North Cotabato.
The BIFM was formed by breakaway MILF commander Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato and is considered a lawless group, which is not covered by the ceasefire between the government and the MILF.
Leonen said the “attacks were suspiciously timed to coincide with the opening of the 30th Formal Exploratory Talks between the GPH and the MILF.”
“Clearly, this group of Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato is one of the few that is willing to go to lengths to deny our communities and our peoples the benefits of a just and lasting peaceful settlement to our armed conflict,” Leonen said.
No moral high ground
“They have lost the moral high ground—they have put communities and civilians in harm’s way for amorphous and illegitimate objectives,” he said.
Iqbal described the violent acts of Kato’s group as an example of “dirty spoiling” and stressed that the “MILF has demonstrated itself as a reliable partner in peacemaking.”
“The path to peace is the most fruitful way, not through war,” Iqbal said. “The MILF is confronting the problem of radicalism, especially among the youth, head on.”