Yt Framework

Provincial governors from accross the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) arrived Monday in the Malaysian capital to attend the peace negotiations between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as observers.

The governors flew to Kuala Lumpur (KL) on board Malaysian Air flight MH 803 which left Manila at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Governors Abdusakur Tan (Sulu), Jum Akbar (Basilan), Mamintal Adiong Jr. (Lanao del Sur), Esmael Mangudadatu (Maguindanao), and Sadikul Sahali (Tawi-Tawi) gathered at KL's State Room of the Palace of the Golden Horses hotel.

Government peace panel chair Marvic Leonen said that they expected OIC Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv Hataman to attend within the three-day talks.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles in a text message to media said the five governors are “both observers and consultants".

Political observers said that the resumption of peace talks is expected to be a highly contentious issue on the negotiating table: transition from the ARMM to a “new autonomous political entity.”

It was learned from protocol only two seats were allotted for observers from each panel.

MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal welcomed the presence of the governors in the peace talks.

At the executive session, the GPH was represented by panel members Leonen, Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani, Bai Yasmin Lao and  Dr. Hamid Barra ; lawyers Johaira Wahab and Armi Beatriz Bayot,  senior military adviser Brig. Gen. Leo Cresente Ferrer and head of secretariat Iona Jalijali.

The MILF was represented by panel members Iqbal, Datu Michael Mastura,  Abhoud Syed Lingga, Roberto Maulana Alonto and Abdullah Camlian; alternate panel member Datu Antonio Kinoc,  consultant Atty. Raissa Jajurie, secretariat head Jun Mantawil, and Mike Pasigan, head of secretariat of the MILF-AHJAG (Ad Hoc Joint Action Group).

The MILF was also represented at the talks by an 11-person delegation while the GPH panel had a delegation of 17, excluding the governors.

The other members of the GPH panel’s delegation were consultant Rep. Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, Brig. Gen. Roland Amarille, chair of the GPH-AHJAG; Brig. Gen. Gilberto Jose Roa, chair of the GPH-CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) and Police Chief Supt. Noel Orais Delos Reyes, representing the Philippine National Police.

Sacdalan is chair of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Peace and Reconciliation.

The three-day talks that ended Wednesday was the 28th exploratory talks since the GPH and MILF peace panels resumed negotiations after the 2003 Buliok war but under the Aquino administration, this was the 9th.

The two panels have been meeting once a month since December 2011. Last month, they signed the first major agreement under the Aquino administration: the “GPH-MILF Decision Points on Principles as of April 2012.”

By Hader Glang