Newsbreak: Afable resigns as chair of GRP-MILF peace panel

Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr resigned yesterday as Chairman of the GRP-MILF peace panel as part of courtesy resignations announced earlier by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Two sources privy to the resignation told Newsbreak that Afable resigned because of lack of support from the President. Afable became chairman of the government panel in September 2003. The two panels are now in the final stages of negotiations on the issue of territory. Reacting to the resignation, Steve Rheault Kihara of the Canadian Embassy told Newsbreak, “That is regrettable. He was a key factor in the very real progress so far and he is deeply respected by both sides as well as by the international community." The Canadian government is expected to participate in the International Monitoring Team. Newsbreak learned that a Canadian official will be sent to Cotabato to monitor development projects. Newsbreak tried to reach Afable but he would not respond to phone calls. - Newsbreak