Palace: Peace process, consultations with MILF to continue beyond Aquino term

Malacañang on Sunday said that the peace process in Mindanao, which includes the government’s consultation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other stakeholders, will push through even after President Benigno Aquino III steps down from his post in June.

In a radio interview with state-run dzRB, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that Aquino has directed Secretary Ging Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to craft an action plan which will promote peace process in Mindanao.

“Through Executive Secretary (Paquito) Ochoa, the President has directed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to firm up in consultation with stakeholders an action plan for promoting the peace process in the transition period during the remainder of the current administration’s term and up to the assumption of the next administration,” Coloma said.

The Palace issued the statement after House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday shut down any prospects of passing the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Congress will hold its final session on February 3.

Deles, in a statement read by Coloma during the interview, emphasized the need to conduct consultations with the MILF despite the “death” of the BBL in Congress.

“We will still need to do consultations including and especially with the MILF, but measures will include strengthening existing peace bodies and mechanisms to include the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, ceasefire and other joint security mechanisms, joint bodies for socioeconomic interventions,” Deles said.

The Palace official said that through the conduct of such consultations, as well as the operationalization of the recommendations of the transitional justice and reconciliation commission, the OPAPP can ensure the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) beyond this administration.

The Aquino administration signed the CAB with the MILF last March 2014.