Gov’t to continue working on peace process after pact signing

THE PEACEMAKERS President Aquino and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (center) applaud as peace panel chairs Miriam Coronel-Ferrer of the Philippine government and Mohagher Iqbal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front exchange copies of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that they signed on Thursday in Malacañang. Also witnessing the event are Malaysian facilitator Ab Ghafar Mohamed, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles (right), and MILF chair Murad Ebrahim (left). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After the peace agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Philippine government was ratified on Thursday, Malacañang said that there is still more to be done to ensure the budding peace between the two parties.

Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing Friday that the Philippine government would still continue the work with the peace panels and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

“We will continue to engage civil society organizations, members of the academe, lawmakers, and other stakeholders in the process,” Valte said.

“There is still work that lies ahead, it does not end with the signing of the agreement yesterday,” Valte quoted President Benigno Aquino III. “And we’re ready to put, to roll our sleeves up, still to continue to work.”

She added that the Malacañang has still not received a copy of the Bangsamoro Basic Law which has a deadline at the end of the first quarter, though the Bangsamoro Transition Committee (BTC) confirmed that it already has a working draft.

“I understand that Chair [Mohagher] Iqbal did mention early this morning that the BTC already has a working draft but it will have to undergo several processes of review within the BTC itself.”

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