MNLF wants terms of 1996 agreement incorporated into MILF peace accord

Moro National Liberation Front. AFP FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Majority of the leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front, including Nur Misuari, wanted the inclusion of all provisions of its 1996 peace agreement with the government incorporated into the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro that was signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last week.

Randolph Parcasio, an MNLF legal counsel, said in a statement e-mailed to news organizations that this position was shared by the so-called Misuari and Muslimin Sema factions, the executive council and the Islamic council during a recent meeting in Saudi Arabia.

“All its provisions complementing the  Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) on advancing the cause of self-determination must be incorporated into the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL),” he said of the agreement that Misuari signed with the government in 1996.

Parcasio said the general consensus of senior MNLF leaders is for the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to study how the significant provisions of the 1996 agreement could be merged with those of the CAB.

He said the MNLF already has a position on this.

The 32-page 1996 peace agreement covers the Basic Rights, Rights on Sharing of Revenues for Metallic Minerals, Security, Governance, Women and the Indigenous Peoples.

“The MNLF (leaders) agree that these provisions should not be diminished,” Parcasio said, adding that this was also the position of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The OIC was the same body that brokered the 1996 peace agreement and the talks between the government and the MILF.