Gov’t remains cautious with remaining annexes

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 22): Gov’t remains cautious with remaining annexes

A government peace adviser said the Aquino administration is working hard by exercising due diligence review of the three remaining annexes that will be included in the comprehensive agreement to be forged with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in order to understand the intricacies of the situation.

The Muslim group earlier had issued a “veiled threat” to the government, indirectly speaking of a possible collapse of the talks due to the delays on the part of President Aquino in getting the three annexes signed. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, however, said “While we move forward in this final stretch, we need to remain cautious of the intricacies involved in the crafting of the annexes.”

“The three remaining annexes on power-sharing, wealth-sharing and normalization are now going through due diligence review because our President wants to make sure that the whole government, not just the peace panel, has the full grasp of all the implications of what we are going to sign,” she said in a message read on her behalf by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Jose Lorena at a conference in Iligan City.

“Our President has reiterated time and again that this government will not sign any agreement that it cannot implement.”

The government of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF in February already signed the annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities that details the road map toward the creation of the Bangsamoro region that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by 2016.
The four annexes and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro will constitute the comprehensive agreement.

Deles stressed the importance of learning from history particularly the consequences of the botched memorandum of agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) in 2008.

“The lessons of MoA-AD continue to remind us to practice due diligence by carefully studying the repercussions and examining the viability while making certain that that the voices of the people are heeded in the process.”

“We will never allow another hastily forged agreement to waste the gains achieved in the 14-year negotiations. We will never allow our people to suffer again. It is for this motivation that we want to settle on an agreement that is based on solid foundation and can withstand scrutiny and cynicism,” she said.

“We are almost there. Peace is already at hand and we cannot allow it to slip out of our grasp.”

The peace adviser stressed the last remaining issues on the three annexes are the most contentious and the most difficult, but the documents are nearing completion. At this crucial stage of the peace process, Deles asked for the people’s support and patience.

“For this reason, we need the help of more and more groups and sectors. For a peace process to succeed, we will need the patience and support of the vast majority of our people,” she said.

“At this point in our peace process, I would like to call on your further help and assistance as the challenges continue to abound. I know that there will be no shortage of options for your involvement as you begin to know more and more about the unfolding possibilities for peace in our country,” Deles told members of the Rotary International District 3870 during the conference.

“As well, your help will be needed in building bridges of understanding and in developing constituencies for peace especially in the professional and the business sectors. It is certainly welcome news to have you join and accompany us in this difficult but worthwhile journey.”

She expressed optimism that the challenges confronting the peace process “are not insurmountable.”
“We have a limited window of time to pursue our dreams, but we can create unlimited opportunities if we help one another in bringing about creative solutions in bringing about a future of peace for our children.”        

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/headlines/item/13203-gov’t-remains-cautious-with-remaining-annexes