Gov't , MILF fail to ink three annexes of framework pact

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, again failed to sign the three annexes of the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro as they concluded the 37th round of talks in Malaysia today.

The government and the MILF peace panels "continued to find ways to resolve remaining issues" on the annexes on wealth-sharing, power-sharing and normalization, said a joint statement signed by government peace panel head Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and her counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal.

The two panels instead agreed to exchange notes on the three annexes through the Malaysian facilitator, the statement added.

"They affirmed their commitment to finally settle these issues soon so that all three annexes may be signed without undue delay," it said.

But during the three-day meeting, the joint statement said, both panels signed the Terms of Reference for Sajahatra Bangsamoro, the development program jointly undertaken by the government and the MILF for the delivery of basic socio-economic services to target communities in Mindanao.

Both parties agreed to meet again after May's midterm elections.

With the failure to complete the three annexes, a comprehensive peace agreement, which aims to establish the Bangsamoro entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, could not be signed yet.