New PH-MILF peace pact to serve as ‘road map’ for future peace talks – Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday joined various groups in welcoming the peace deal reached by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a milestone in Mindanao’s peace and development, adding that the framework agreement served as a road map for future negotiations.

“With this framework, which is within the bounds of the Constitution, we should all be optimistic that the conflict that has affected thousands of Filipinos, Muslims and Christians alike, is nearing its end,” Binay said in a statement.

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday announced the landmark drafting of a framework agreement for the creation of a new autonomous region to be called Bangsamoro entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Binay, in his statement, also shared the optimism expressed by many that the agreement would pave the way for economic development in the region.

“Economic development has eluded Mindanao because of the absence of peace. This too, is about to end,” Binay said.

Binay pointed out that the new guidelines served as a road map for future negotiations, saying that the new agreement contained features that cleared controversial provisions.

Under the agreement, a 15-member “Transition Commission” would be set up to iron out the details of the preliminary agreement and draft a law creating the new Muslim autonomous region in about two years.

The agreement was expected to be signed on October 15 by Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.