MILF 'frustrated' over delay in talks

MANILA, Philippines - Many ground commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are losing hope that the Bangsamoro issue would be resolved through negotiations, a key official of the group said Friday.

MILF Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said they have formally informed the government about their concerns on the supposed delays in the peace talks.

“We are not happy and many of our leaders on the ground are slowly losing their trust and hope that the Bangsamoro issue will be resolved through talks,” Jaafar said in a phone patch interview with reporters.

“We also sent a message to the government through the facilitator, saying that the MILF is frustrated about what is happening to the peace talks now and that the MILF is very very much concerned about what is going on,” he added.

Jaafar said there have been sentiments that the government is deliberately delaying the signing of a comprehensive compact agreement.

“We still believe in the [sincerity] of President Aquino in solving the issue but he better check. His objectives should take precedence so that there will be peace,” he said.

Jaafar said there had been arrangements that talks would resume in Kuala Lumpur immediately after the May 2013 polls. The meeting, which was supposed to thresh out the proposals between the two parties, did not happen as planned, he said.

The government panel confirmed that there was an agreement to meet after the polls to thresh out the remaining issues on the annexes of the Bangsamoro framework agreement.

“This exchange of notes has already commenced and through this process, we hope to come as close as possible to agreed language and return to Kuala Lumpur to be able to finalize the Annexes on Power and Wealth-sharing very soon,” said government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

Earlier, the MILF decried the changes in the government’s stand on the annexes on wealth sharing.

“The peace negotiation is an exercise in futility if there is no stop to this changing of positions by the government negotiating team,” an unnamed MILF negotiator was quoted by reports as saying.  

Ferrer said finding an agreement on the annexes has been “more difficult and complex” as this would involve the details of the framework agreement.

“A draft for the wealth-sharing annex had indeed been completed by the technical working groups of the parties. However, prudence on the part of government requires that it undergoes a final review before the President gives his final stamp of approval,” Ferrer said.

She said the government wants to introduce changes to the draft annex with regard to taxation, fund transfer mechanisms and revenue-sharing.

“The President is committed to delivering an agreement that will allow the Bansamoro to enjoy effective and meaningful fiscal autonomy but also take into account the legal, political, and administrative constraints of the central government,” Ferrer said.

Jaafar, however, said the Bangsamoros have been waiting for a settlement for years.

“We still believe that the most peaceful and civilized way of resolving the Bangsamoro issue is through the negotiation. But the question is how long our people can wait,” Jaafar said.