Deles, Leonen flesh out peace plan details in Congress

Sec. Teresita Deles. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—After the historic signing of the framework agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday, Presidential Peace Process Adviser Teresita Deles and chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen on Tuesday fleshed out details of the peace plan with members of the House of Representatives.

House committees on peace, reconciliation and unity (chaired by North Cotabato Representative Jesus Sacdalan), Mindanao affairs (chaired by Sultan Kudarat Representative Arnulfo Go), and Muslim affairs (chaired by Sulu Representative Tupay Loong) quizzed Leonen in particular about details on how the peace process will go about halting decades of conflict in Mindanao and create Bangsamoro, a new political entity which will replace the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has earlier called the signing of the framework on the peace plan between the government and the MILF a “great achievement” but one which will not be easy to achieve without both parties working together to achieve peace in Mindanao.