The peace panels of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed Tuesday an agreement that will serve as guide discussions on the substantive agenda of the peace talks.
The ‘Decision Points on Principles’ was signed by government peace panel chair Dean Marvic Leonen and MILF panel chair Mohagher Iqbal in Kuala Lumpur on April 24). Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tenglu Mohamed signed as witness to the document.
According to the agreement, the parties recognized Bangsamoro identity and the legitimate grievances and claims of the Bangsamoro people. The parties also agreed that the status quo is unacceptable and that the Parties will work for the creation of a new autonomous political entity in place of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The agreement also said the parties agreed to the continuity of negotiations in the context of agreed documents and that the new autonomous political entity shall have a ministerial form of government.
The parties further agreed to the need for a transition period and the institution of transitional mechanisms in order to implement the provisions of the agreement.
“There will be power-sharing and wealth-sharing between the National Government and the new political entity. In the matter of power sharing, the National Government will have its reserved powers, the new political entity will have its exclusive powers, and there will be concurrent powers shared by the National Government and the new political entity,” the accord said.
Meanwhile, both the government and the MILF agreed that the following matters are reserved for the competence of the National Government: (a) defense and external security, (b) foreign policy, (c) common market and global trade, (d) coinage and monetary policy, (e) citizenship and naturalization and (f) postal service. The power to enter into economic agreements already allowed under R.A. 9054 shall be transferred to the new political entity.
Both sides also agreed that wealth creation (or revenue generation and sourcing) is important. They also acknowledged that the power of the new political entity to create its own sources of revenue, subject to limitations as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, and to have a just share in the revenues generated through the exploration, development or utilization of natural resources.
The parties recognized the need to strengthen the Shari’ah courts and to expand their jurisdiction over cases. The new political entity shall also have competence over the Shariah justice system.
The Parties agree to the creation of (third party) monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, which may utilize competencies already available in existing mechanisms.
In addition to basic rights already enjoyed, the following rights of all citizens residing in the new political entity bind the legislature, executive and judiciary as directly enforceable law and are guaranteed: (a) Right to life and to inviolability of one’s person and dignity, (b) Right to freedom and expression of religion and beliefs, (c) Right to privacy, (d) Right to freedom of speech, (e) Right to express political opinion and pursue democratically political aspirations, (f) Right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate means, (g) Right of women to meaningful political participation, and protection from all forms of violence, (h) Right to freely choose one’s place of residence and the inviolability of the home, (i) Right to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in social and economic activity and public service, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity, (j) Right to establish cultural and religious associations, (k) Right to freedom from religious, ethnic and sectarian harassment and (l) Right to redress of grievances and due process of law.
