Peace adviser slams door on domain pact renegotiation

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr ruled out a renegotiation of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain that the government peace panel reached with Moro separatists, saying such a move would push back the peace process to square one. “Esperon is against the suggestion of some politicians calling for a re-negotiation as this would only mean prolonging the peace process and that would bring back the country to where it first started many years ago," said a news release posted on the official government web site on Wednesday. Three members of the House of Representatives from Mindanao earlier filed a resolution to bring the controversial MOA back to the negotiating table, saying the people from places being covered by the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity to be created in the agreement have to be consulted first. South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, North Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, and Zamboanga City Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco claimed that they were also backed by other representatives from Luzon and Visayas in the motion to resume the domain deal negotiations. The three representatives stressed that renegotiations are needed because before the Supreme Court stopped the signing of the MOA, the government did not consult the stakeholders in the domain deal issues. The legislators added that the conflict in Mindanao is caused by the government’s concealment of the contents of the agreement that will grant territory to the Bangsamoro peoples. Government and MILF peace negotiators were to sign the MOA in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 5 but the high court issued a temporary restraining order a day ahead upon the request of North Cotabato province officials, who complained that parts of their jurisdiction were included in the proposed Muslim homeland to be formed without their being consulted. Esperon, however, denied insinuations that the government is giving-in to the difficult demands of the MILF. He noted that the government and MILF panels agreed for the wealth-sharing formula believing that it is but fair enough to grant the entitlement to the BJE as it has long been left behind economically. He said that the income will also go a long way in their developmental efforts. Esperon pointed out that the MOA is just one part of the negotiations and is also just a document that still need enabling laws passed by the Congress before it gets implemented. Nevertheless, this MOA is considered by both panels from the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a very important building block in the Mindanao peace process, he said. He maintained that that the long-delayed peace talks only shows the government's careful deliberation on some of the MILF demands and some were not even approved as they are seen inimical to the national interest. But when the MILF agreed to the conduct of a plebiscite in the determination of the BJE, that brought in a positive sign for the peace talks. "We fought for a plebiscite because this is the highest form of consultation in our democracy," Esperon was quoted by the news release as saying. Esperon also expressed confidence that the country is just a few strides away from attaining a lasting peace despite the Supreme Court’s restraining order, which has led to clashes in Central Mindanao. MILF peace negotiators defended government negotiators from criticisms that they were outwitted in the talks. MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the government had a very good panel and maintained that the MILF’s stand in asking for the rectification of the historic injustices committed against the Bangsamoro people, is “so valid and compelling" that even if the government gets the brightest minds as its negotiators, the result will be the same. Lawyer Lanang Ali, another MILF negotiator said: “It just happened that we in the MILF are standing on solid historic, moral grounds that are impossible to defeat in a fair and square deal." - GMANews.TV