RP, MNLF sign MOU to fine-tune 1996 peace pact

The Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a memorandum of understanding to continue fine-tuning the implementation of their 14-year-old peace pact. Representatives from both sides signed the MOU in Tripoli in Libya last Tuesday, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). "Under the MOU, all the parties concerned also agreed ‘to undertake a GRP-OIC-MNLF tripartite process structure to monitor the implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement and the security, governance, economic activities, including the delivery of social services, in the conflict-affected areas," the OPAPP said on its website Wednesday. Signing for the government was Assistant Secretary Camilo Miguel Montesa of the OPAPP. Representing the MNLF was chairman Nur Misuari, who is also eyeing the gubernatorial post in Sulu. Ambassador Rezlan Jenie, chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference-Peace Committee for the Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP), signed for the OIC-PCSP. The signing was held at the World Islamic Call Society in Tripoli, Libya. Government and the MNLF ended decades of fighting when they signed a peace agreement in September 1996. On March 13 last year, a tripartite meeting among the OIC, government and MNLF was held in Pasay City where the participants agreed to create a legal panel to turn common proposals between the parties into legal form. The OPAPP said both the government and MNLF agreed to continue working on the contentious issues, and transmit the results to the President for referral to the Congress as a certified administration bill. EO 872 Both sides also agreed to set up a fund mechanism to pursue economic development in southern Philippines which is being supported by the OIC. "It is in this light that Executive Order 872 creating the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund (BDAF) was signed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 16, 2010 as the implementing arm for the economic catch-up plan on the implementation of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Peace Agreement," the OPAPP said. Present at the signing were presidential peace process adviser Annabelle Abaya, Deputy Presidential Adviser Nabil Tan, Rep. Yusop Jikiri, Chairman of the Committee on Peace, Unity and Reconciliation, and Consul General Ezzedin Tago from the Department of Foreign Affairs. MNLF leaders who witnessed the event included former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Dr. Parouk Hussin, Hatimil Hassan, Gen. Abdul Sahrin, and counsel Atty. Randolph Parcasio. Government legal panel members included Assistant Chief Prosecutor Leah Armamento, lawyer Arifa Ala from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, former ARMM Regional Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna, lawyer Ishak Mastura and lawyer Jose Lorena. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV