Government, MILF sign 4 new accords

MANILA, Philippines — The government has signed four new agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the peace process. 

Signed recently were the revised implementing guidelines on the joint communiqué signed on May 6, 2002; guidelines for the operationalization of the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund, terms of reference of the joint communications committee and a certification extending the mandate of the civilian protection component of the International Monitoring Team.

Newly appointed government peace panel chairman Nabil Tan and MILF peace panel head Mohagher Iqbal signed the agreements in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, Malaysian Special Adviser Kamarudin Bin Mustafa as well as members of the International Contact Group from Japan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Center for Humanitarian Dialogue and Conciliation Resources witnessed the signing.

“Peace doesn’t come overnight. We have to work hard for it,” Dureza said.

“All of these (developments) are clear signals that we’d like to move from where we are today…Move forward ’piece by peace,’ ” he said.

Dureza stressed the need to take advantage of the “meeting of minds” of the two peace panels in pushing the peace process.

Murad said peace structures are ”working very hard” even as he lauded President Duterte’s unwavering commitment to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.

“The President...has never been as committed than any other president in moving forward the peace process to address the injustices against the Bangsamoro people,” Murad said.

After signing the agreements, Tan gave updates on the status of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which has been submitted to the Senate and House of Representatives.

He said the congressional sub-committees tasked to reconcile the versions of the proposed measure would convene next week to get the inputs of the Bangsamoro Transitional Council and other resource persons.

”The peace process has humps and bumps, but we must stay the course. We are all partners here working for peace,” Tan said.

Also during the meeting, the MILF peace panel announced the appointment of Jun Mantawil as its newest member, replacing Haji Mahmour Estino, who died recently.