Gov't continues to talk to MNLF, Deles says

From ABS-CBN (Sep 17): Gov't continues to talk to MNLF, Deles says

The government continues to involve the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in designing policies for the future Bangsamoro homeland, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles.

Deles told the Senate finance committee that the government has learned its lessons from the past.

She said government will not leave the MNLF out of the process, even if the latest peace agreement was crafted after talks with another group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"The effort in the tripartite review continues, and even though that has been suspended, we are talking to senior MNLF leaders to participate in the crafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law," she said.

"We are envisioning that when the Bangsamoro transition authority is set up, there will be MNLF there."

But the same is not true for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group composed of former MILF members.

"They're basically a law enforcement issue," said Miriam Coronel Ferrer, head of the government peace panel.

The government has submitted the draft of the law creating the Bangsamoro to both houses of Congress.

Senate President Franklin Drilon had said he expects lively Senate debates on the bill, which would likely be passed in March next year.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/17/14/govt-continues-talk-mnlf-deles-says