RP, MNLF to continue peace agreement despite 'criticism'

The 1996 Peace Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front will continue to be implemented even though former Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao governor Nur Misuari "criticized" the Arroyo administration. Misuari, also a former MNLF chairman, was in Tripoli to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MNLF and the Philippine government. The agreement was signed after the 1996 Final Peace Agreement underwent a thorough review that was the result of a tripartite meeting between the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), and the MNLF. Held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City last March 13, 2009, the tripartite meeting later resulted in the creation of a joint legal panel that was tasked to transform common proposals between the parties into legal forms and its eventual inclusion in the agreement. The agreement will require all three parties to “continue working on the contentious issues and the result of which shall be transmitted to the President of the Philippines for referral to the Congress of the Philippines as certified administration bill." Under the agreement, all three parties will also "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." A fund will also be set-up which will be supported by the OIC to pursue economic development in southern Philippines. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Annabelle Abaya, who also attended the signing ceremony, expressed hope that the implementation of the agreement as embodied in the signed MOU shall be fully carried out. Others present in the MOU signing were Deputy Presidential Adviser Nabil Tan, Congressman Yusop Jikiri, and Consul General Ezzedin Tago for the Philippine government; former ARMM Governor, Dr.Parouk Hussin, Hatimil Hassan, General Abdul Sahrin, and lawyer Randolph Parcasio for the MNLF, and other members of the OIC. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV