Joint Statement of GPH-MILF on the 36th Formal Exploratory Talks
The 36th round of Formal Exploratory Talks between the negotiating panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on February 25-27, 2013 ended today with the signing of the Annex on Transitional Arrangements and Modalities (TAM) that details the road map towards the creation of the Bangsamoro.
The Parties also signed the Terms of Reference for the Independent Commission on Policing (ICP) prepared by the TWG on Normalization. The ICP is the body that shall submit recommendations to the peace panels on the police force for the Bangsamoro pursuant to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB).
The Parties continued discussions on the Annexes on Wealth Sharing and Power Sharing and resolved most of the remaining issues.
The Parties likewise discussed the composition of the Third Party Monitoring Team, the body that will review, assess, evaluate and monitor the implementation of the FAB and its Annexes.
The Parties welcomed the appointment of all the members of the Transition Commission as envisioned by the FAB and provided for by Executive Order 120. They acknowledge the important role of the Transition Commission and look forward to its success.
The Parties expressed their appreciation to His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his unwavering commitment to a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, to His Excellency Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his continued support in the facilitation of the GPH-MILF Peace Talks, and to the members of the MILF Central Committee headed by Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for their untiring commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Bangsamoro Question.
The Parties also extend their gratitude to the members of the International Contact Group (ICG), namely Japan, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey, the United Kingdom, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), Conciliation Resources (CR), Muhammadiyah, and The Asia Foundation (TAF).
In particular, they express profound appreciation to CHD’s Mr. David Gorman for his active participation since the inception of the ICG in 2009, and his valuable contributions to the GPH-MILF peace process. The Parties as well as the Facilitator wish him well in his new assignment.
Done this 27th day of February 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
For the GPH
(sgd.) Miriam Coronel-Ferrer
GPH Panel Chair
For the MILF
(sgd.) Mohagher Iqbal
MILF Panel Chair
Signed in the presence of:
(sgd.)Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed
Malaysian Facilitator
