MILF hints at rejecting draft interim peace pact

Secessionist rebels have received – but hinted they will reject – a new proposed interim peace pact of the government, which they said offered nothing substantial. A member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel said the government is insisting on the “inside the box" approach and is not likely to change its stance. "Time is ticking away but the government continues to hang on and insist on a framework that the two parties have never discussed or agreed since the start of the talks in 1997," the member said in an article on the MILF website on Thursday evening. The negotiator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the MILF had already received a copy of the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) proposed draft agreement, but said that it may not deserve a counter-draft from the group. “The government has not changed and their draft does not require another draft from us," he added. He said the proposed agreement will clearly make the 1987 Constitution, sovereignty, and territorial integrity as benchmarks. Meanwhile, the MILF said its central leadership had already discussed the latest GRP draft agreement but has yet to issue an official statement. It said the MILF Peace Panel through its chairman Mohagher Iqbal will communicate the MILF official stand to Datuk Othman bin Abdu’Razak, the Malaysian country facilitator, "very soon." Malaysia has brokered renewed peace negotiations between the GRP and the MILF. [See: Gov’t, MILF resume formal talks in Malaysia] Iqbal said he is not at liberty to disclose details of the MILF decision. “I have the decision but I cannot divulge it," he said. — with a report by Nikka Corsino/LBG, GMANews.TV