Gov’t negotiators brief House members on peace talks with MILF

Marvic Leonen INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A day after the historic signing of a framework agreement, members of the government peace panel  trooped to the House of Representatives on Tuesday to formally seek congressional support for the signing of a peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen spent around two hours briefing House members on the details of what he described as “the mother agreement,” and emphasized the importance of congressional action for the success of the peace process.

Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the peace process “cannot move forward without having this clear cooperation with Congress.”

“It is a legislative track that is going to bring about the fulfilment, the realization of this framework agreement,” she said.

At the outset, Leonen asked the chamber to come up with a resolution “to support the work of the Transition Commission and, of course, to support the entire peace process in itself.”

“Your honors, [this is] the best agreement that is constitutional already, that does not contain independence (by the MILF), that is democratic and inclusive; I beg you to support this particular framework agreement,” he told congressmen. “The words in this piece of paper can actually bring lasting peace to the area.”

But even before Leonen could formally request for congressional backing, Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas already introduced a resolution expressing the chamber’s “strong support” for the framework agreement.

Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada was optimistic that a House resolution on the matter would be passed before Congress goes on Christmas break.

“We assured them already that we will fast-track everything in order that we can implement it already,” Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, chairman of the committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, told the Inquirer after the hearing.

Leonen said the Palace would issue an executive order creating the Transition Commission, which would draft a bill on the “Basic Law” governing a new Bangsamoro entity in the south. He said the government, which would pick seven out of the 15 members of the commission, would include a Christian.

“The agreement commits a prospect and that prospect is there can be a Bangsamoro basic law written by the people themselves, but disposed of and approved and authorized by Congress. It means, therefore, that it will be a very democratic process,” he said. “At the end of the day, Bangsamoro will have a political mandate from the people, from Congress, from the Constitution itself.”

Leonen noted that the proposed basic law would go through the same process of lawmaking under the Constitution, meaning it would have to hurdle both chambers of Congress and get the approval of the President.

Afterward, he said, the basic law bill would be submitted to a plebiscite involving people living in the proposed Bangsamoro territory.

Leonen spent much of the briefing trying to allay fears of some congressmen that yet another splinter group might emerge as a result of a peace agreement with the MILF.

Rep. Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte sought assurances from the national government that her province would no longer be attacked by recalcitrant MILF commanders such as “Bravo” and “Mercury,” as was the case in 2001, 2003, and 2008.

Leonen told the group that “there is no peace process in this planet that did not encounter difficulties.” But he remained optimistic that the presence of disgruntled Moro leaders won’t scuttle the prospect of lasting peace in the region.

Leonen cited existing “law enforcement actions” to go with arrest warrants and rewards against these groups.

“This is how we deal with the splinter group, the splinter group that does not have community following in the area, as told to us by almost all of our sources,” he said.

Leonen said the peace panel was likewise reminded by both police and the military “never to leave a security vacuum in place or to hint at a security vacuum.”

He described as a “breakthrough” the acknowledgment of both the government and the MILF “that there should be a reduction and control of the proliferation of firearms in the area.”

“That, in itself, I think is also a breakthrough along with the proviso there that the MILF will want to decommission in a gradual manner and the decommissioning process will follow a timetable with, of course, guarantees of verifiability, etc. that will be negotiated in the annex.”

The matter of “normalization,” or the decommissioning of the MILF, will be among the three annexes to be attached to the framework agreement within the year. The two others will cover the issues of power-sharing and wealth-sharing between the central government and the new Bangsamoro territory.

Responding to another query from a congressman, Leonen said the framework agreement would not be “tantamount to disregarding” the existing Tripoli Agreement and the 1996 final peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front then under Nur Misuari. He said the framework would “complement” the existing agreements.

Leonen said the government was in touch with some MNLF leaders during the negotiations with the MILF.

“The government has always negotiated with the MNLF as its partner and insofar as the GPH is concerned, MNLF is always a partner and therefore in the Transition Commission, please be sure that the government will consider that particular partnership,” he said.

Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo told Leonen that the “ministerial” structure being planned for Bangsamoro was no different from a parliamentary system of government. Leonen acknowledged the similarity but said: “I avoid the term because some people think that we are changing the form of government nationally. What we are only recommending is that it be a change within the regional autonomous entity.”

“A ministerial form of government in that area can replace strong warlords with strong political parties, and strong political parties can ensure whoever is chief there, whoever is executive there  answers to the people rather than one who answers only to Malacanang,” he added.