GRP-MNLF peace pact marks 14th year; gov't eyes its full implementation within P-Noy's term

Manila, Nov. 10 – The legal panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) on Monday began their five-day formal meeting to continue reviewing the proposed amendments to Republic Act 9054.

RA 9054 was passed in 2001 creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which includes the provinces of Lanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Maguindanao, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan in Basilan.

In her welcome statement during the meeting hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Makati, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles thanked the Indonesian government for its continuous support to the peace process, assuring that the current administration will participate fully towards completing the peace tracks started previously.

RA 9054 was passed in 2001 creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which includes the provinces of Lanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Maguindanao, and the cities of Marawi and Lamitan in Basilan.

In her welcome statement during the meeting hosted by the Indonesian Embassy in Makati, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles thanked the Indonesian government for its continuous support to the peace process, assuring that the current administration will participate fully towards completing the peace tracks started previously.

“The government intends to be sincere to all the discussions,” she added, stressing that it is committed to completing the implementation of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement.

The series of meetings also cover other items for further study, such as the implementation of the agreement to set up the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund (BDAF); and the tripartite monitoring of the implementation of the peace pact.

The output of the legal panel meetings will be reported in the next tripartite meeting.

The legal panels were formed based on the agreement during the third tripartite meeting between the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), GRP and MNLF held on March 13 last year. The panels have been tasked to transform the common proposals between the two parties into legal form and to arrive at common grounds to move forward on the issues for further study.

The GRP side is headed by Justice Undersecretary Leah Tanodra-Armamento, with Regional Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo, Environment Asst. Sec. Anselmo Abungan and Atty. Ala-uya Ala of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, as members.

On the other hand, the MNLF legal panel is led by Atty. Randolph Parcasio and comprised of Umbra Jainal, former solicitor general of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) during Misuari’s term; Yasser Lumbos, Ulka Ulama; Rexie Bugarin; Mohammad Ali Guro; and John Anthony Lim.#