After 8 years, government-MNLF peace pact review ends

MANILA, Philippines – The tripartite review of the government’s 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ended at a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Teresita Quintos-Deles said the Philippine government, MNLF and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally signed the Joint Communiqué that marks the conclusion of the Tripartite Review Process, which took more than eight years.

Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, said the communiqué identified four key areas the parties agreed to implement: establishment of the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund to be used for socio-economic development projects in MNLF communities; referral of the agreement on the co-management of strategic minerals to the Oversight Committee created by Republic Act 9054; for the MNLF to participate in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission of the envisioned Bangsamoro Parliament, and for the creation of a tripartite implementation monitoring committee.

Peace Process Undersecretary Jose Yusuf Iribani Lorena, MNLF principals Randolph Parcasio and Muslimin Sema, and OIC Secretary General Iyad bin Amin Madani signed the communiqué.

“This is an important milestone we have reached as it sets the convergence of the two Bangsamoro peace processes,” Deles said.

Lorena said the parties could now move forward towards implementing the agreements after the eight-year long review.

Nur Misuari, founding chairman of the MNLF, was absent during the signing.

He earlier opposed the closure of the review process and the merging of the MNLF with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which was reported as having a hand in the death of 44 members of the police Special Action Force that went to Mamasapano in Maguindanao to serve a warrant against international terrorist Marwan a year ago.

The ministerial meeting of the tripartite review process in Jeddah was held to define a road map “towards the completion of the review process and identify ways and means of coordination and collaboration for the implementation” of what was agreed on. – With Roel Pareño