KUALA LUMPUR (MindaNews/28 May) – The government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels resumed negotiations here Monday with governors of the five-province Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) attending as observers in what is expected to be a highly contentious issue on the negotiating table: transition from the ARMM to a “new autonomous political entity.”
Government peace panel chair Marvic Leonen told MindaNews that OIC ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman is also expected to attend within the three-day talks.
According to protocol, only two seats are allotted for observers from each panel. Leonen said the governors will take turns in attending.
Panel members entered the State Room of the Palace of the Golden Horses hotel here at around 9:30 a.m. But when the panels took a break at 10:54 a.m., the observer-governors — Basilan’s Jum Akbar, Lanao del Sur’s Mamintal Adiong, Jr. , Maguindanao’s Esmael Mangudadatu , Tawi-tawi’s Sadikul Sahali and Sulu’s Abdusakur Tan – had yet to arrive.
Mangudadatu told MindaNews in a text message that they were advised to attend tomorrow. “Di pa daw kami attend . Bukas pa,” he said. Tan’s text message was that today (Monday) is a “free day” for them. (The governors flew to KL on board Malaysian Air flight MH 803 which left Manila at 6:30 p.m. Sunday).
As it turned out, even members of the International Contact Group (ICG), who have been sitting regularly as observers in the negotiations, are not around as they were informed Sunday night that Monday would be a “five plus four” executive session (five panel members and four secretariat members each).
MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal welcomed the presence of the governors in the peace talks. “If they come in, it’s good,” he told MindaNews shortly before moving to the State Room. But he said only two observers are allowed per panel.
The five governors are “both observers and consultants,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles told MindaNews in a text message.
At the executive session, the GPH is represented by panel members Leonen, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani, Bai Yasmin Lao and Dr. Hamid Barra ; lawyers Johaira Wahab and Armi Beatriz Bayot, senior military adviser Brig. Gen. Leo Cresente Ferrer and head of secretariat Iona Jalijali.
The MILF is represented by panel members Iqbal, Datu Michael Mastura, Abhoud Syed Lingga, Roberto Maulana Alonto and Abdullah Camlian; alternate panel member Datu Antonio Kinoc, consultant Atty. Raissa Jajurie, secretariat head Jun Mantawil, and Mike Pasigan, head of secretariat of the MILF-AHJAG (Ad Hoc Joint Action Group).
The MILF is represented at the talks by an 11-person delegation while the GPH panel has a delegation of 17, excluding the governors.
The other members of the GPH panel’s delegation are, among others, consultant Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Brig. Gen. Roland Amarille, chair of the GPH-AHJAG; Brig. Gen. Gilberto Jose Roa, chair of the GPH-CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) and Police Chief Supt. Noel Orais Delos Reyes, representing the Philippine National Police.
Sacdalan is chair of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Peace and Reconciliation.
Leonen said several senators expressed interest in attending the talks as observer but cannot because of the impeachment hearings of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The three-day talks which will end Wednesday is the 28th exploratory talks since the GPH and MILF peace panels resumed negotiations after the 2003 Buliok war but under the Aquino administration, this is the 9th.
The two panels have been meeting once a month since December 2011.
Last month, they signed the first major agreement under the Aquino administration: the “GPH-MILF Decision Points on Principles as of April 2012.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)