Palace confirms wealth, power sharing schemes under review

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 1): Palace confirms wealth, power sharing schemes under review

The Palace said yesterday that proposals of wealth and power sharing for the Bangsamoro substate contained in the annexes being drafted for the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro is under review of President Aquino that effectively stalled the negotiations being held in Malaysia between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the 15-man panel of the Transition Commission (Transcom), however, is expected to have an output for the finalization of the Bangsamoro project of Aquino.

“We expect them to come out with the Basic Law that will be reflective of aspirations of the government and all the stakeholders,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said there are certain in the annexes that have to be addressed.

Lacierda said Aquino “wanted more time to discuss the remaining issues in the annexes” of the Framework Agreement.

“There are two annexes that are in discussion. One, there’s a draft annex already in the wealth-sharing, in the power-sharing, as well as the normalization,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda maintained that the peace efforts of the administration with the MILF would have to continue.

“By no means we are stopping. We wanted to clear all the issues before we move to the next exploratory talks and so we decided to ask for a resetting of the talks to April,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda cited the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) that had issued an explanation on the result of the exploratory talks and” there was a firm commitment on both sides to continue.”

Lacierda added that on the matter of the peace efforts with the MILF, the Sabah issue is excluded. “There is no issue on Sabah. Did Sabah have a hand here? No, it did not. The primary concern here was, let’s discuss all the remaining issues in the annexes,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the OPAPP has been optimistic the panels could meet its deadline to finish the work.

“On our end, there will be a negotiation. It’s both substance and form. Substance as to the what need? What are the issues and the form in terms of language? Language is just as important in any negotiations as the substance,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the details of the annexes could not be discussed because of the need for an approval from Aquino as principal.

“Because it has to have the approval of the principal and the principal here is the President of the Philippines. It has to be discussed with the President and the President wants these issues discussed thoroughly. So they cannot go into a meeting without the mandate coming from the Chief Executive,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said that there parts in the peace talks that are “not something that we are at liberty to discuss.”

“We have certain meetings, a number of meetings with the President, so we need to clear everything, and the peace panel has to clear the negotiation terms. So that’s something that would require the mandate of the President,” Lacierda explained.

Meanwhile, a group of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization (CSOs) staged last week a simultaneous peace rally in Cotabato City, North Cotabato City and Davao City.

In Cotabato City, the CSOs staged a peaceful rally at the Sultan Kudarat Monument, Tantawan Park, to call on the goverment and the MILF to preserve the gains of the peace process and remain steadfast in upholding the supremacy of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

“We staged again a series of peace rally in protest to the government of the Philippines, not to postponed the peace talks with MILF. The peace talks must be given priority rather than the Sabah issue as it is a clear manifestation of sabotage of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” Dats Magon, spokesman of the CSO, said.

The group called on to preserve the gains of the peace process and continue the negotiations on the other unresolved annexes so that they can sign a comprehensive compact agreement at the soonest possible time.

Also, the group urged the peace panels to ignore unscrupulous politicians, ill-minded groups and individuals, and carpetbaggers who are bent to destroy the peace process for their personal gain.
“The Philippine and Malaysian governments should consider the Sabah crisis as a separate issue that shall not in any way derail the peace process,” the group said.

The Transcom, which was created by President Aquino through Executive Order 120, is tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law that will create the “New Autonomous Political Entity” to be called Bangsamoro.”

The new entity will replace the 23-year-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which will have its last elections on May 13.

The three-year term of office of ARMM officials who will be elected next month will be cut short as soon as the Basic Law shall be passed by Congress and ratified by the people.

Chaired by MILF peace panel chairman Mohaqher Iqbal, the Transcom will meet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/12306-palace-confirms-wealth-power-sharing-schemes-under-review