Ferrer eyed as next chief negotiator in peace talks with MILF

Sec. Teresita Deles. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — While it may have lost its chief negotiator, Mario Victor “Marvic” Leonen, when he was appointed associate justice to the Supreme Court, the government peace panel is on track to forge a comprehensive agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front by the end of 2012, according to Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita “Ging” Deles.

As speculation swirled over who would take over from Leonen as chief peace negotiator, all eyes appeared to be on a colleague, professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who has been handling the “most challenging” job on the panel.

“Justice Leonen will be the first to say it’s never a one-person job – it’s teamwork,’’ said Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, by phone, on the impact of Leonen’s appointment to the Supreme Court on the peace process.

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday named the 49-year-old Leonen to the high tribunal just as a fresh round of negotiations ended with the MILF on the framework agreement’s annexes on wealth and power-sharing, and normalization.

Speaking at the Code-NGO national congress on Thursday, Aquino admitted feeling apprehensive about pulling Leonen from the peace panel because it might jeopardize the gains attained with the MILF, but he was assured by Deles a worthy successor could be found.

“I was a bit worried because I was letting him go before we could complete the talks. I recalled asking Secretary Ging, ‘Can we now let Leonen go? Do we have a replacement for him? The peace talks might end up getting derailed.’ While she’s forced to, Secretary Ging is assuming all responsibility so that the final settlement would get fast-tracked,’’ the President said.

“Marvic did a good job in fostering understanding,’’ he added.

Deles said the bulk of the next discussions with the MILF would center on the annex of normalization, since the discussions on power — and wealth-sharing began even before the Oct. 15 signing of the framework agreement on an autonomous Moro homeland called Bangsamoro.

“As far as we can see, the decisions to be made have already been identified. We are working hard to deliver within the time-frame set in the agreement,’’ she said. “Where the talks are now, we’re confident we can reach it.’’

The talks will resume middle of December, with Deles saying the panel is on track to seal a comprehensive agreement with the MILF by yearend. Much of the government panel’s confidence comes from the MILF side’s statement that it could work with any chair.

Since Leonen was a “strong candidate’’ for the Supreme Court, the government panel had prepared for the possibility of his departure by dividing the work among themselves, specifically the three annexes, Deles said.

“In the last meeting, the other panel members were stepping up and taking responsibility. We were preparing for that possibility. We knew he was a strong candidate,’’ she said.

As for who would replace Leonen as chair, Deles said she had someone in mind but declined to identify him or her.

But the MILF might have given a hint. In his letter to Leonen congratulating him on his nomination to the justice post by the Judicial and Bar Council, Mohagher Iqbal said the MILF could work with any chair of “any gender.’’

“Puedeng babae yan (It might be a woman),’’ said Deles.

The two women members of the government peace panel are Ferrer and Yasmin Lao. The other members are former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani and Dr. Hamid Barra.

“The major discussions are on normalization. Overseeing that is professor Ferrer. This is a new topic and this is the most challenging because it deals with the final disposition of arms and forces,’’ Deles said.

She said the new chair and a new member – who would fill the post left by the new chair – would be announced simultaneously.

“That shouldn’t take long. That was part of the consideration when the President decided to appoint a new Supreme Court justice,’’ Deles said. “In the past, the President gave weight to my recommendation, but this is the President’s final decision.’’

The announcement will be made in “a matter of days,’’ according to President Aquino’s spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.