MILF peace negotiator assures peaceful visit in Cagayan de Oro

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 25): MILF peace negotiator assures peaceful visit in Cagayan de Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –- “We come in peace, we will depart in peace,” Mohagher Iqbal, the chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said in a press conference here Wednesday.

Igbal issued the statement amid apprehension that his presence would instigate trouble as emotions in response to the death of 44 PNP commandos following the Mamapasano tragedy remain high to this day.

The MILF chief negotiator is a recipient of the “Fr. William Masterson Award” that the Jesuit-run Xavier University would confer during the “convocation ceremony” at the university gym on Thursday.

Iqbal said that the Mamapasano tragedy that occurred last January 25 in Maguindanao was an isolated incidence where the MILF responded to an “armed offensive” of the SAF commandos.

“The SAF simply stepped into the territory of MILF where most residents are relatives who must have suspected that the presence of the SAF commandos was a military action,” Iqbal said.

Depending on how the incident would be interpreted, the MILF believes that the Mamapasano encounter should not affect the Framework Agreement that both the government and the MILF have signed in a bid to attain lasting peace in Mindanao, he said.

Iqbal believes that Congress will approve the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as stipulated in the Framework Agreement.

“Both representatives of the House of Congress and head of various government offices of the Philippines who were present during the meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia signed the Framework Agreement,” Iqbal said.

Amid protest by local residents and university alumni, the Xavier University will give the award to Iqbal during the university’s 76th Commencement Exercises this year.

Fr. Roberto Yap, the university president, said that the members of the Board of Trustees have taken into consideration the objections, but believes that the award demonstrates the university’s commitment to attaining lasting peace in Mindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=747884