Gov't consultations with Mindanao LGUs kick off tomorrow

Buluan, Maguindanao, Apr. 12 – The Government of the Philippines (GPH) will begin its first leg of consultations with local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao tomorrow regarding the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Headed by Marvic Leonen, the GPH negotiating panel will confer with local chief executives of Buluan, Maguindanao on April 13, and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on April 14. Joining him are panel members Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Senen Bacani, and Ramon Piang.

The series of consultations aims to solicit the views and sentiments of stakeholders on the GPH-MILF peace talks, as well as raise their awareness and engage them in the peace process discourse. To date, the government has conducted a total of 18 consultations with various sectors, such as the academe, indigenous peoples, government officials, civil society groups, media and the military.

Consultations with the local officials of Saranggani, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and South Cotabato will likewise be held in the upcoming weeks.

The next round of GPH-MILF exploratory talks is slated on April 27 to 28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia wherein agenda will include the MILF’s draft Comprehensive Compact, which contains the Moro group’s positions on the substantive issues.#