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‘Self-rule law’ negotiations between Philippine Muslim rebels and gov’t pushes forward
(Photo by Gil Nartea/ Robert Viñas/ Rodolfo Manabat/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)” width=”604″ height=”366″ />
President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak witness MILF Peace Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal, GPH Peace Panel chairperson Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Malaysian facilitator Tengku Ghafar affix their signature to the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in a ceremony at the Kalayaan grounds of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (March 27). Also in photo are MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles. (Photo by Gil Nartea/ Robert Viñas/ Rodolfo Manabat/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)A joint statement issued by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said that both sides are committed to the furtherance of the self-rule law, and that they aim to finish the draft bill by August 18 for approval by Congress.
Negotiators for both panels said on Sunday that the parties had “reached agreement on substantial portions” towards the creation of the draft self-rule law which aims to bring an end to des of decades of violent conflict between armed rebels and government forces.
“The panels have reached agreement on substantial portions of the document and have developed a shared understanding of the remaining challenges and unsettled issues, which they will bring back to their principals for further guidance,” the joint statement said.
When queried by AFP reporters as to what these challenges and unsettled issues were, head MILF negotiator Mohagher Iqbal pointed to the draft law’s “preamble,” as well as “fiscal autonomy and inter-government relations”, among other things.
“We covered many things but there were a lot of things that have not been resolved,” he told the AFP.
He said the government and MILF panels would have to meet again soon but would not say when this meeting would take place.
According to the joint statement, both sides took up matters regarding the “fiscal autonomy and administration of justice,” and issues concerning transfer of the budget from the national government to the proposed Muslim autonomous government.
Negotiations for the self-rule draft were held in the city of Davao.
A peace pact between the Aquino government and the MILF was signed in March 2014. Under the pact, a law creating an autonomous Muslim region is to be set forth by 2016, at the end of Aquino’s term.
For their part, the MILF is supposed to lay down their arms and assist the national government in improving the conditions of poverty-stricken and marginalised Filipino Muslims.
