Gov't-MILF pact: Only 2 annexes to go

From ABS-CBN (Mar 20): Gov't-MILF pact: Only 2 annexes to go

Only two annexes remain to be discussed in the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro signed last October between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Palace official disclosed yesterday.
 
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda gave assurance the government would not allow the Sabah issue to hamper the signing of the comprehensive agreement with the Muslims since the peace talks, facilitated by Malaysia, would continue.

“The only thing that’s left in the discussion of the framework agreement, on the annexes is, I think, the power-sharing and the normalization. So these are the only two annexes remaining in the discussion,” Lacierda told reporters in a briefing.

Government and MILF negotiators signed the Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities after the 36th round of formal exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur from Feb. 25 to 27.

The annex details the road map towards the creation of the Bangsamoro region to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) based on the agreement of both parties.

Lacierda said the government consulted the family of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III regarding the peace process, but the Sabah claim was “not discussed primarily because this is a foreign policy issue.”

“For that reason, it (Sabah claim) was referred to the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

He said the Palace is very hopeful the comprehensive agreement with MILF would be signed and completed, adding the timetable would be up to the respective panels.

“The whole framework agreement together with the annexes has one purpose: to bring about enduring peace in Mindanao. So this is much bigger than what we have - the current situation in Sabah - right now,” Lacierda said.

Malacañang sees no reason for the delay in peace negotiations, particularly with Malaysia as facilitator following the Sabah standoff.

“Let us not remove the fact that this framework agreement is a result of talks among Filipinos. Malaysia only helped us. It’s not as if the two remaining issues can no longer be resolved because of the Sabah standoff,” he said, adding the framework agreement is bigger than the trouble in Sabah.

“We’re close to an agreement and so we have not received any notice. There’s no reason for us to change the facilitator. They have been very helpful in coming up with a framework agreement - agreement for peace, not only for MILF, but for the entire Muslim Mindanao.”

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/20/13/govt-milf-pact-only-2-annexes-go