Aquino-Ebrahim meeting to expedite peace talks, says Palace aide

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang said Saturday it would be easier to move the peace talks forward if the heads of the parties represented on the negotiating table have met face to face.

Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ricky Carandang said President Aquino wanted to personally convey to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front how he wants to address the problems in the southern Philippines.

“It’s easier to move forward when you’ve met each other personally,” Carandang said in a text message when asked about the need for a personal meeting between President Aquino and MILF chair Murad Ebrahim.

Carandang said there was a need for the heads of the negotiating entities to personally meet each other “to take the measure of each other.”

Asked why the President wanted to meet Ebrahim personally, Carandang said, “To personally convey how seriously he wants to resolve the problems in Muslim Mindanao.”

Lawyer Marvic Leonen, the chair of the government panel in the peace talks with the MILF, announced on Friday the meeting between Mr. Aquino and Ebrahim on Thursday night in Japan.

Leonen said it was the President  who sought the meeting with the MILF leader.