Peace pact with MILF to withstand scrutiny: Ferrer

From the Sun Star-Manila (Apr 10): Peace pact with MILF to withstand scrutiny: Ferrer

THE Philippine government assured that the comprehensive agreement it will sign with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be based on a "solid foundation."

Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the government's chief negotiator, said that the deal "will withstand the scrutiny of the skeptics, the misgivings of the unconvinced, the cynicism of the critical."

"Our President, this government panel, our government, are not the type who will promise the moon, the sun, and the stars, only to leave you later in the dark or to your own resources when the going gets even tougher," she said during the opening of the 37th round of formal talks on Tuesday.

She maintained that the government aims to sign the remaining annexes confidently by taking the time needed to thoroughly review them. This, she said, was the reason the 37th round of talks was reset from its original March schedule.

"I can tell you that the Cabinet members have gone out of their way to shepherd this process. Many have spent time with us seeking solutions, providing context, broadening understanding," she said.

"Our agenda remains clear: we solve the remaining issues across the three annexes, seek the creative compromises, and find the right language," Coronel-Ferrer added.

The peace panels are hammering out the remaining annexes on Wealth-sharing, Power-sharing, and Normalization. The Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities was the first to be signed in February.

MILF panel chair Mohagher Iqbal, in his statement, said the MILF is fully committed to finish the process in order to establish real peace in Mindanao.

"Without appearing very simplistic, I think we are about to achieve this historic feat on signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Aquino administration," he said as he related his optimism to settle the remaining issues on the annexes.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2013/04/10/peace-pact-milf-withstand-scrutiny-ferrer-276902