Philippine upbeat on peace accord with Moro rebels

The Philippine government expects to sign a series of agreements with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) within the year to end decades-long war and violence in Mindanao, according to a top Malacanang Palace official. Secretary Teresita Deles, the presidential adviser on the peace process, said the agreements are be implemented on or before 2016 when the six-year term of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is to end. Deles gave the rosy assessment in a speech on Sunday to kick off the “I Goal for Peace” ceremony in Metro Manila for the nationwide observance of Peace Month 2012 this September. The chances for lasting peace in Mindanao, Deles said, have been bolstered by the significant progress made in the peace talks between the government and the MILF in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which has been retained as the third party facilitator. The two panels, she added, are to resume their 31st exploratory talks in early September after their representatives agreed to postpone negotiations in late August to give way for the state funeral of Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government who died in a plane crash off the island province of Masbate in the Visayas. Deles did not elaborate but one of the highlights in recent peace talks was the agreement for the establishment of a political entity to cover initially the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu as well as Marawi City. The entity, the negotiators explained, was in response to the MILF demand for the establishment of a Moro homeland in Mindanao under the concept of ancestral domain. Deles also underscored the need for unity and collective efforts among Filipinos amid diversity to achieve the ultimate goal of resolving the decades-long conflict in Mindanao. “If we work together, we can make things happen,” she emphasised in her speech as she added: “In working for a just and lasting peace, no one loses, no one is short-changed or aggrieved. Our diversity as a nation is not a hindrance for us to work together hand-in-hand as we share the aspiration for just and lasting peace.” (gulf today)