Monday, August 26, 2019

Duterte orders creation of coordinating body with MNLF to discuss peace efforts in Sulu

From GMA News (Aug 27, 2019): Duterte orders creation of coordinating body with MNLF to discuss peace efforts in Sulu

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of a coordinating body between the government and Nur Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to address the security issues in Sulu, a known hotbed of Abu Sayyaf militants.

Duterte relayed this plan during his meeting last Friday with Misuari, MNLF’s founding chairman, and other government officials in Davao City, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Tuesday.



For the fourth time this year, President Rodrigo Duterte meets with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari. Senator Bong Go, Duterte's former top aide, said the meeting took place in Davao City over the weekend. Photo courtesy: Sen. Bong Go

Panelo said the President instructed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) led by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. to convene the body by the second week of September in Davao “for agenda setting and for the start of discussions.”

“The GPH-MNLF Coordinating Committee will serve as a venue to seek for the cooperation of the MNLF to achieve immediate peace in Sulu by, among others, helping in combatting the Abu Sayyaf Group and convincing MNLF relatives to return to the folds of the law,” Panelo said.

“The GPH-MNLF Coordinating Committee can expect the full support of the Office of the President as we move towards our common goal of resolving the conflict that have caused deaths, suffering, and dislocation among the Muslims and Christians alike.”

Panelo said Misuari “wished” that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) be involved in the consultations, similar to the previous tripartite talks with GPH, MNLF and the OIC, “to determine the remaining compliance” of the Philippine government in the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF.

MNLF’s rival rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), also struck a final peace deal with the government which led to the enactment last year of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the foundation of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Duterte earlier expressed hope that Misuari would accept the “same terms” the national government had extended to the MILF, whose key leaders were now running the BARMM.

The new region had expanded land and water jurisdiction, fiscal autonomy, and an increased share in national government resources as provided under the BOL.

“In resolving the Muslim rebellion in Mindanao, every undertaking that may lead to lasting peace and prosperity to that region must be tried and tested until its fruition,” Panelo said, adding Duterte “will walk the extra mile to bring harmony to the country and the nation.”

It was the fourth meeting between Duterte and Misuari this year. Their past three meetings took place in Malacañang.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/705878/duterte-orders-creation-of-coordinating-body-with-mnlf-to-discuss-peace-efforts-in-sulu/story/

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