MILF sends 50 delegates to signing ceremony in Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sent some 50 delegates to Malaysia over the weekend to attend the signing of an agreement on ancestral domain on Tuesday. A statement on the MILF website posted Monday morning said the government also sent 90 delegates to the signing ceremony. "In term of significance, the MILF views this signing ceremony as at par with the signing of the Tripoli Agreement of 2001 in Tripoli, Libya, but based on the number of public officials attending and publicity, this one in Malaysia has the edge and ranks first." the MILF said. The MILF said its 50 delegates include its peace panel, secretariat, technical committee, and representatives of its nominated non-government organizations (NGOs). Members of the technical committee include former members of the MILF technical working group (TWG). Chief MILF negotiator Mohagher Iqbal will head the MILF peace delegation, which will be billeted at the Marriott Hotel or in cottages nearby. Heading the government delegation is government peace panel chairman Rodolfo Garcia. Senior members of the Arroyo Cabinet in the government delegation include Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales. Also with the government delegation are members of the Philippine Senate, House of Representatives, local government chief executives, and members of the diplomatic community. The government also invited Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari, Mayor Muslimin Sema, also a claimant to the chairmanship of the MNLF, and three more MNLF leaders who also said they are chairmen of other factions in the MNLF. Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan and his son, Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, were among those invited by the government. "The father-and-son tandem supports the GRP-MILF Peace Talks, but the younger Ampatuan is running for reelection for governorship in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which is the subject of request for postponement by the MILF. Reports said the House of Representatives has already agreed to the postponement, but many senators are opposed to it," the MILF said. Zamboana City Mayor Celso Lobregat, one of the two most outspoken critics of the GRP-MILF peace process, was also invited, the MILF said. Also invited was North Cotabato Vice Governor Emmanuel Piñol. - GMANews.TV