MILF fends off opposition, says domain pact a product of over 10 years of talks

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday downplayed protests by residents in areas affected by a deal on ancestral domain, saying the deal is already an official government act. In a radio interview, MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the draft agreement was a product of more than 10 years of negotiations between the government and MILF peace panels. Kabalu also indicated that residents of these affected areas should blame the national government if it failed to consult them on the ancestral domain deal. "Karapatan nilang magsabi ng ganoon but ito, official na act ng gobyernong ito, itong ginawang ito. More than 10 years na ang negotiation na ito (It is their right to protest the pact, but this is an official act of the national government. Our peace talks have been more than 10 years in the making)," Kabalu said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also appealed to the Christian and Muslim leaders and residents of Zamboanga, North Cotabato and other areas affected by the deal to keep an open mind. On the other hand, Kabalu said the MILF is assuming that the government has already made the proper consultations with the areas concerned on the agreement on ancestral domain. Peace negotiators of the government and the MILF are to sign the agreement in Malaysia on Tuesday. "I don't think so na yung panel ng gobyerno kulang sa paghimay sa issue na ito... Sinubmit pa ito sa legal groups para mapag-aralan. Tapos sabihin mo hindi nakonsulta, hindi maganda? I don't think so (I don't want to think that this government did not consult the people on the matter. It also submitted the documents to its legal panel for study. Now are we being made to understand that there was no consultation? I don't think so)," Kabalu said. Kabalu also branded as "disinformation" the claims that some areas in Zamboanga City are to be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE). Kabalu said the general idea is that the core territory of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are to be included in the BJE. But Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat insisted a copy of a "confidential" document obtained by Rep. Isabelle Climaco indicated some villages in the city will be included in BJE. Lobregat, Climaco and Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian signed a full-page advertisement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer opposing the city's inclusion in the BJE. "We are for the end of any and all armed hostilities... However, as one free people of different faiths and cultures we do not favor the creation of a juridical entity based on religion or segregation," the ad stated. "We manifest our unflinching opposition to the inclusion of Zamboanga City or any of its 98 barangays in the BJE and Bangsamoro Homeland under the memorandum of agreement to be entered into by and between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the MILF," it added. It warned that including the city or any part of it in the BJE would affect the city's territorial and political integrity, cause its dismemberment and extreme prejudice to the people of Zamboanga. Lobregat, in an interview on dzBB radio Monday, said they will hold mass actions to oppose the deal. Meanwhile, presidential peace process adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr appealed to those against the deal not to resort to violence. "Ultimately the people will be consulted... Yung ganyang rally huwag lang maging violent (Ultimately the people will be consulted. We just hope the rallies won't turn violent)," Esperon said in an interview on dwIZ radio. - GMANews.TV