MILF wants 'quick fix' of 3 Bangsamoro deal annexes

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wants a “quick fix” of the three annexes of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), which the peace panels failed to finalize during the latest round of formal talks.

In an editorial posted on its website luwaran.com, the MILF expressed hopes that the government will no longer ask for additional time to study the annexes after the election.

The annexes of the FAB tackle issues on power and wealth sharing and normalization. It was signed last October by negotiators from both sides in Malacanang.

“It is our hope that immediately after this election, there will be no new request for more time to conduct due diligence study. If a small organization like the MILF can do its assignment very quickly, why not a state?” the editorial read.

“We want to see a quick fix of the three Annexes: power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and normalization,” it added.

The MILF, nevertheless, acknowledged the need for the government to look into the annexes but hopes there will be no more delays after the polls.

"There is no villain yet at this point in time. We still view the need of the government for more time to study their stand especially on the Annex on Wealth-sharing, which was already settled and initialed by the parties last February 27, as understandable,” the group said.

“We know that President Benigno Aquino III is extremely preoccupied with many important things including the forthcoming May 13 national elections,” it added.

The MILF stressed that “time is ticking away,” as it raised concerns that the Bangsamoro Transition Commission may not be able to craft the basic law within the allotted timeline.

“Everyone knows that solving this problem will benefit everybody, including the government. Therefore, the urgency and necessity of getting past through this mess should not only be the concern of the MILF but also of the government,” the MILF said.

The Aquino administration wants the law creating the new Bangsamoro region in place by 2015.

The government and the MILF concluded the 37th round of formal talks in Kuala Lumpur last week without finishing the annexes.

The 37th round of formal talks were supposed to be held last March, but the government deferred it to this month allegedly due to the need to conduct more studies on the annexes. – with C. Madarang