PNoy: Govt-MILF talks to resume by November

Peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are expected to formally resume not later than November, said President Benigno Aquino III in his “100 days" report. At the “100 Days Report Kay Boss" townhall-style meeting held at the La Consolacion College in Manila on Thursday, Aquino said that a series of dialogues to get inputs from all stakeholders will be conducted starting October. The MILF earlier said that peace negotiators representing both sides had been invited to Malaysia for a “pre-resumption" meeting. Malaysian third party facilitator Datuk Othman bin Abdulrazak sent "official communication" to lawyer Marvic Leonen and Mohagher Iqbal, respective chairmen of the government and MILF panels, saying that “the two parties cannot just come to Kuala Lumpur, sit across the negotiating table, and discuss anything without resolving them first in a small group meeting," the MILF reported in its website. “Tayo po ay hopeful na talaga namang mas malapit na iyong starting position kesa noong araw. At ang minumungkahi nga natin maging all-inclusive, na lahat ng stakeholders na apektado nitong peace agreement ay magkasama-sama dito sa dialogong ito," the President explained during Thursday’s question-and-answer portion of his 100-days report. (We are hopeful that we are truly closer now to a starting position than before. And we are suggesting that this be all-inclusive, that all the stakeholders affected by this peace agreement be brought together by this dialogue.) Aquino made the statement in response to a question from Jainab Abdul Majib, a female civic coordinator from Sulu, who asked the President about his programs to bring lasting and sustainable peace in Mindanao. Leonen and the rest of the government peace panel, working with Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, have already been instructed to seek long-lasting solutions to the continuing conflict in Mindanao, Aquino said. In an interview, Deles said that the government is waiting for the Malaysian facilitator to set up communications in order to finalize a date for the formal resumption of talks with the MILF. The President has already spoken with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak to thank him for his country’s efforts to help facilitate the peace process in Mindanao, Deles added. “With peace, the government can easily establish the necessary programs, infrastructure and primary services particularly the provision of livelihood for Mindanaoans," Aquino said, adding that economic activity in the island would normalize if the present, persistent problem in Mindanao is addressed.—Larissa Mae Suarez/JV, GMANews.TV