MILF to focus on governance once peace pact is signed

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will cease to exist as a revolutionary group after it forges a final peace deal with the government, MILF chief negotiator Muhaquer Iqbal said.

Iqbal, who is also concurrent chairman of the MILF’s information committee, said the group intends to focus on governance and on addressing security and economic issues upon the establishment of the Bangsamoro political entity.

“By then there is no more reason for the MILF to continue to exist as a revolutionary front,” Iqbal said.

Peace talks between the government and MILF started on Jan. 7, 1997, but gained headway only in 2003 with Malaysia as third party facilitator.

More than a dozen other foreign peace advocacy groups and international donor organizations are also directly assisting in the on-going government-MILF talks.

“We in the MILF are optimistic our dream of a peaceful, progressive Bangsamoro homeland will be realized,” Iqbal said.

The MILF earlier posted on its website www.luwaran.com  its plan to evolve into a political party after a final peace deal is reached.

Iqbal said they are confident that a Bangsamoro political entity will be in place before the 2016 synchronized local and presidential elections.

The government and the MILF peace panels are now finalizing issues on power sharing and normalization – the last two annexes to the Oct. 15, 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro.

The Bangsamoro entity is intended to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.