Govt panel head chides MILF, asks for ‘continued focus and patience’

The head of the government panel negotiating with Moro rebels chided his counterpart on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) panel for saying that the rebels are “disgusted" by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s failure to reach an agreement with them after nine years of peace talks. Rafael Seguis, chairperson of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ (GRP) peace panel, said that peacemaking is “never easy," and that the search for a peaceful settlement to the Mindanao conflict requires “continued focus, lots of compromises on both sides and tons of patience." Seguis gave the statement, posted Saturday on the Department of Foreign Affairs website, in reaction to MILF Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal who earlier told AFP in an interview: "It is disgusting that after almost 10 years in office, the peace process was not completed during her term." "The comment is understandable as it reflects the frustration of some parties. However, playing to the sidelines and imputing blame while delicate talks are on-going are not helpful," Seguis said. The 12,000-strong MILF had singled out the collapse of a draft agreement forged with the Arroyo administration in 2008, called the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), which would have created a large autonomous area in Mindanao under their control. The GRP panel head explained that the MOA-AD was aborted "for a reason" as its legality was challenged before the GRP’s Supreme Court, which declared it unconstitutional. Seguis, who is also Foreign Affairs undersecretary, said it was “not fair to put the blame on President Arroyo" for an action made by the SC as “an independent and co-equal branch of government." He insisted that Mrs. Arroyo “has never lacked political will" in pursuing peace. Earlier, at a forum on global conflict held Friday at the New World Hotel, President Arroyo told international peace negotiators that her policy has always been one of “all-out peace in Mindanao."
She assured the gathering that she will continue to work for peace in the southern island until her term ends and even beyond, as a congresswoman who will file bills that can help bring peace. At the same forum, Arroyo's peace adviser Annabelle Abaya admitted that the 2008 draft agreement was a failure, but it also taught both sides about the need to be patient and flexible. The MILF on its website, Luwaran.com, however quickly belittled the idea of Mrs. Arroyo as a congresswoman achieving more for Mindanao peace than during her nine years as president. MILF secretariat chairman Muhammad Ameen dismissed Mrs. Arroyo’s claim as “all lip service and media hype," saying she will no longer be in a position to take such action. (See: MILF snubs Arroyo plan to continue peace efforts) The GRP and MILF peace panels are expected to convene next week in Kuala Lumpur to continue their talks.—JV, GMANews.TV