The Moro National Liberal Front (MNLF)'s plan to revive its petition seeking the independence of Mindanao will not prosper since the United Nations (UN) recognizes the government's efforts in the peace process, Presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles said Tuesday.
Deles said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the signing of the last annex to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and even congratulated the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for "their perseverance, courage and commitment in having reached this important milestone in the peace process."
"I think the statement speaks for itself as to how the UN regards how the government is addressing the situation in southern [Philippines]," she said in a text message to GMA News Online.
She issued the statement after MNLF spokesman Rev. Absalom Cerveza said they plan to revive their petition before the UN seeking the independence of Mindanao, claiming the government had abrogated the 1996 peace agreement it had signed with them.
Deles, however, said the UN does not only recognize the FAB
and its annexes but its agencies have also been providing "support"
to the GPH-MILF peace process.
So instead of reviving their petition, she said the MNLF should just work with them to come up with the "best" law possible for the Bangsamoro people.
"Our call and the cry of all people of good will is for all Bangsamoro stakeholders, including the MNLF, to work together to come up with the best law possible for the autonomous region and its people," she said.
Bangsamoro Basic Law
During a press conference on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. also quoted Deles as saying that “MNLF inputs to the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law are welcome.”
He said Deles likewise said that there is no abrogation of the 1996 final peace agreement with the MNLF and that the government even wants to incorporate all the “best features” of the pact as well as those in Republic Act 9054 or the Organic Act on the ARMM into the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
“Ang pananaw ng pamahalaan ay gusto pa ring maging kasali ang lahat ng mga may taya dito sa prosesong ito. Kaya nga patuloy ang koordinasyon at pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating pamahalaan sa Committee of 15—yung bagong governance structure ng MNLF,” Coloma said.
He said the government has specifically adopted the 42 consensus points agreed upon during the tripartite review of the implementation of the 1996 peace pact with the MNLF.
“These consensus points have been conveyed to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission,” Coloma said.
A Bangsamoro Transition Commission shall be in charge of drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will use the FAB annexes as guide. It is expected to result in a Bangsamoro Political Entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Coloma said the government had invited the MNLF into the commission but they refused to name a nominee.
“Ganunpaman, bukas pa rin ang pintuan ng pamahalaan para tanggapin ang kanilang mga inputs, dahil hindi naman kailangang maging miyembro noon para magpanukala ng probisyon sa Bangsamoro Basic Law,” he said.
Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said they hope to present the Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress by early 2014.
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