Government has not abandoned agreement with MNLF — OPAPP

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 20): Government has not abandoned agreement with MNLF — OPAPP

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) says it remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

OPAPP Undersecretary Jose Lorena said the Aquino government has no intention of abrogating or abandoning the FPA, and has been continuing its positive engagements with the MNLF, contrary to recent claims of its leader Nur Misuari.

Lorena said Misuari, along with his contingent, is always being invited and “present in the Tripartite Implementation Review meetings and other related meetings over the past three years.”

The government, MNLF, and the OIC have been engaging in a tripartite review of the implementation of the final peace agreement since 2007. The review process is being facilitated by the OIC-PSCP, which is chaired by Indonesia.

“The Aquino administration has always engaged the MNLF since 2010 and will continue to do so under the existing mechanism as we have conveyed to the OIC-PCSP (Organization of Islamic Conference - Peace Committee for Southern Philippines),” Lorena said.

“As far as the GPH (Government of the Philippines) is concerned, we are not aware of any reason for them to claim that government has abandoned them. Our aim has always been to complete the Tripartite Implementation so that we can move forward with concrete actions towards the development of MNLF communities, which we have already started,” he said.

Lorena made the statement following reports that Misuari declared a Bangsamoro Republic in some parts of Mindanao.

“We encourage Mr. Misuari to be a partner in ensuring the welfare of MNLF communities and actively engage with us in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law which will include the agenda of the MNLF,” he said.

OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles earlier clarified that the government’s main objective in pushing for the completion of the tripartite review is to start the implementation process for the consensus points and mechanisms that the Parties have agreed on.

“We have already informed the OIC through the chair and members of the [Peace Committee for Southern Philippines chaired by Indonesia] that we think it is time to draw a conclusion to the review process,” she said.

Deles likewise cited Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa’s “firm support for the efforts being undertaken by the GPH to ensure a comprehensive settlement of the armed conflict in Southern Philippines.”

“He was categorical in stating that Indonesia opposes any attempt to jeopardize the territorial integrity of the Philippines and that any such move falls outside the ambit of the agreed upon Tripartite Review Process,” Deles said.

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