The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) aim to sign the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) within the year, according to a statement released by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) during the 10th National Peace Consciousness Month celebration yesterday at the Emperador Stadium, McKinley Hill, Taguig City.
Two of the four annexes of the Agreement have already been completed, said OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles in a statement. She identified the two annexes are Annexes in Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, and the Annex on Revenue Generation and Wealth Sharing.
In a statement also released by the GPH panel in Talks with the MILF, they said these two completed annexes were “conscientiously crafted by both sides with the end view of providing meaningful political and fiscal autonomy to the envisioned Bangsamoro region.” They added that “it is the support of the people tired of war and desirous of peace that propelled the peace process and made possible its successes.”
The other remaining two annexes on the negotiating table are said to be normalization and power sharing. And Deles shared that “we are inching closer towards signing a Comprehensive Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).” Both parties are said to resume discussions this September.
Asked about the Bangsamoro Peace Rally yesterday in Davao City spearheaded by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari, Deles replied to reporters: “Well if the call is for peace, we certainly welcome it. Yung sinasabi naman natin sa MNLF, hindi naman natin sila ini-itsepuwera dito sa proceso. Itong paghahanap, itong paglalagda ng bagong political entity dito sa…na tatawaging Bangsamoro is not just for the MILF, it is for all Bangsamoros so ang pananawagan talaga natin diyan magtulungan na.”
She also revealed that some MNLF leaders have also been meeting with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government over the weekend in Zamboanga to talk about partnership for development. To this she said, “Sana nga mag-partner na nga.”
Meanwhile, the GPH Panel for the Negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDFP also advised in a statement, “As we celebrate the 10th National Peace Consciousness Month, we call on the CPP to listen to our people. Instead of violence, let us build peace. Instead of belligerent statements, let us put on the table ideas and strategies for building meaningful consensus that will put an end to armed hostilities.”
Peace Month Celebration
According to OPAPP, this year’s peace month theme is a play on the Filipino proverb, “Walang imposible sa taong naniniwala na lahat ay possible (Nothing is impossible to a person who believes that everything is possible).”
Deles said, “The theme is a hopeful reminder that lasting peace is possible, especially if we all contribute towards it.”
The peace month celebration kicked off with 1 Goal for Peace, a football clinic for around 200 Muslim and Christian kids from urban poor communities who were taught by coaches and football players from the Azkals and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). It was a collaborative project of OPAPP, PFF, Generation Peace, Asia-America Initiatives, and Urban Poor Associates.
More activities are said to be lined up in September for the peace month celebration.
