Ex-peace panel head urges GPH, MILF to continue talks to resolve contentious issues

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 18): Ex-peace panel head urges GPH, MILF to continue talks to resolve contentious issues

A former chair of the government peace panel has urged both the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to exercise flexibility to move the peace process forward in resolving the contentious issues on wealth and power sharing.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Rodolfo C. Garcia, a former chairman of the government peace panel negotiating with the MILF, on Tuesday said there should be “give and take” on both sides to pave the way for the signing of a final peace agreement between the GPH and the MILF.

Garcia made the statement in a telephone interview with this writer in the wake of the new development in the ongoing talks in which the MILF said have reached a “stalemate.”

Garcia said that these contentious issues “can be discussed by both sides” as he urged the government and the MILF not to remain “fixed in their position.”

Garcia was the chairman of the government peace panel during the Arroyo administration and has extensive knowledge on the Mindanao conflict having been assigned in the region for many years during his active service in the military, including as commander of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Maguindanao.

Earlier, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles said that the channels of communications with the MILF are open.

Deles said the government is ready to discuss to resolve the contentious issues on wealth sharing and power sharing.The peace talks with the MILF are on the homestretch as both peace panels are now tackling the most difficult matters.

On the other hand, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer has expressed optimism that both parties will try their best to arrive at workable comprises.

“This exchange of notes has already commenced and through this process, we hope to come as close as possible to agreed language and return to Kuala Lumpur to be able to finalize the Annexes on Power and Wealth-sharing very soon,” she added.

Malaysia is the third party facilitator in the peace talks between the GPH and the MILF.

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