PRRD wants GPH-MNLF panel to convene by September

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the ceremonial awarding of housing units to former rebels at the Freedom Residences in Tagum City on July 16, 2019. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the immediate creation of a coordinating committee between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and for discussions to start by the second week of September, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte relayed his desire for ‘immediate’ formation of GPH-MNLF panel to Misuari when the two met in Davao City last Friday (August 23).

He said the President also instructed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) to convene the GPH-MNLF Coordinating Committee by the second week of September in Davao City “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 in a statement.

Panelo said the GPH-MNLF Coordinating Committee has full support of the Office of the President in achieving the common goal of resolving the conflict in Mindanao.

Misuari, for his part, expressed hope that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would be involved in the consultations to determine the remaining compliance of the GPH in the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF, according to Panelo.

The MNLF chair wanted a similar setup to the previous tripartite talks among the GPH, MNLF, and the OIC, he added.

Meanwhile, Panelo said Duterte was determined to try and test “every undertaking that may lead to a lasting peace and prosperity” in the region.

“We can do less as a people, and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will walk the extra mile to bring harmony to the country and the nation,” Panelo said.

Last March, Duterte bared that he is “in a hurry” to strike a deal with Misuari to finally end the long-drawn Moro rebellion and achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.

Just like how government has “come to terms” with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim through the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), Duterte said he wanted to do the same with Misuari.

Earlier this month, Duterte said he was “praying to God” that Misuari “will be enlightened and will be able to accept maybe the same terms that we have extended to Murad.”