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MANILA, Philippines – Several hours before the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) seal their final peace agreement on Thursday, groups and personalities extended their congratulations to the two parties.
The Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) said the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) brings “sustainable peace” within reach and the “transformation of Bangsamoro and Mindanao dreams to reality.”
“We hope that with this agreement in place, the government can now work on the convergence of the two peace agreements forged with the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) and the MILF, and proceed to focus much needed attention on the socio-economic and political development of the region to attain genuine autonomy,” the group said in a statement.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said it invited members of the MNLF to the signing, to be held at Malacañang, but only those who have “expressed interest to come.”
Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles said they invited a faction of the MNLF led by former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema. Sema and his men had been distancing themselves from MNLF founder Nur Misuari who allegedly ordered the siege of Zamboanga City last year. Misuari’s group believed that the CAB will water down their own peace agreement with the government signed in 1996.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay urged Filipinos to show their support for the agreement, which he said was “the first step in our long and determined journey to peace and progress in Mindanao.”
“I am hopeful that with this act of unity and goodwill, we will finally usher in a new era of genuine and equitable growth and development for our Muslim brothers and sisters and the people of Mindanao,” he said.
Senator Grace Poe, expressing the same sentiments, said the government should “guarantee a meaningful autonomy that values democracy and takes into consideration the needs and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people under one sovereign Filipino people.”
The Cordillera Bodong Administration also lauded the historic event as a “day when the whole country stood up for peace in the Southern Philippines, a hopeful attempt to finally resolve the four decades conflict in Mindanao that spelled hundreds if not thousands of Filipino lives.”
More than a thousand people are expected to attend the signing, which will be led by the peace panels of both parties. Signing as witness is Malaysian third party facilitator Tengku Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed.
Foreign dignitaries, including Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, are also expected to grace the event. Other guests include Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Naci Koru of Turkey, State Minister Maria Bohmer of Germany, Director Salem Ali Othman of Libya, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.
At least six senators and 62 congressmen confirmed their attendance, Malacañang said.
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