MANILA, Philippines – Leaders of the next administration must preserve the gains of the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), international monitors said yesterday.
Chairman Alistair MacDonald, who along with other members of the Third Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) joined the two-day meeting of the government and MILF in Malaysia, said the next leaders have no other recourse but to preserve the gains of the peace process and to continue its implementation toward the passage of the Bangsamoro Bill.
“No government can afford to neglect the peace process: not for reasons of national development, not for reasons of national security, and not for reasons that [belittle] the importance of not creating a climate for violent extremism,” he said.
Malaysian third party facilitator Tengku Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed said that the upcoming elections must not keep the peace process from moving forward.
“We must preserve the gains, we must continue… Changing of government doesn’t mean changing of infrastructure. We may add, but not [subtract],” he said.
European Union Ambassador Franz Jessen said the two-day meeting in Malaysia is a strong message to the public that they are still committed to the peace process in the Philippines.
“The journey has not yet ended but the meeting today demonstrates that the perseverance and commitment have not been lost,” he said.
“The parties, meeting here today, are proving that they, that you, are resilient and truly committed to peace. This is an important message to the public.”
Jessen, who was invited by the panels to observe the meeting, urged the government and the MILF to continue the peace process.
“I encourage the government of the Philippines and the MILF to continue seeking the paths for the implementation of commitments made over the 17 years of negotiations and continue their engagements,” he said.
“This meeting is crucial as it will offer the opportunity to reassess, reschedule and prepare for the next phase of the process.”
Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission chairman Mo Bleeker commended the government and MILF peace panels for their hard work.
“I want to commend both panels and this architecture for peace mediation,” Bleeker said.
“It is true. On the one hand it is unique. On the other there are many examples in the world in which I’ve also been involved and in which transitional justice and reconciliation efforts appear to be one of the main components of what becomes a durable solution.
“We have been told that there was a Bangsamoro problem. We come here with one unique message — that there is a Bangsamoro opportunity for the Philippines.”
Independent Decommissioning Body chairman Mustafa Pulat said politicians in the Philippines would allow them to continue the decommissioning process.
“I wish that the domestic politics in the Philippines would allow us to carry forward our work,” Pulat said.
Pulat said that the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Bill would delay the decommissioning process of MILF weapons and combatants as the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro dictates that its process moves along with the legislative progress of the proposed measure.
“The IDB is committed to continue as an independent, relevant, adaptable, active and a stakeholder in the normalization,” Pulat said.
“I can also reaffirm the support of the Turkish, Norwegian and Brunei governments as member countries of the IDB.”
Government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the government and the MILF peace panels, together with the various peace structures working under the Bangsamoro peace process, are meeting in Malaysia to re-assess means of moving forward in light of the 16th Congress’ failure to pass the Bangsamoro Bill before it adjourned last week.
“Today could have been a much happier occasion, if only we had the law that would have moved our road map forward in leaps and bounds. But we do not have the law – yet,” she said.
“Despite the extraordinary efforts of our teams and all the other tireless peace advocates and congressional allies who traveled with us in this difficult journey of a thousand miles, we saw the session days in Congress wither away, without a BBL in sight.”
MILF peace panel and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal warned of widespread frustration within the MILF.
“We have learned our lessons,” he said.
“The problem is structural and systemic… There is widespread frustration on the ground by our people and members of the MILF. They accused the government of resorting again to delaying tactic and just managing the conflict in Mindanao.”
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are on recess since Feb. 5 until after the May 9 national and local elections without passing the Bangsamoro Bill.
It would have established a strong autonomous regional parliamentary government that would replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The non-passage of the Bangsamoro Bill would lead to its archiving by the current Congress, which means it would have to be re-filed again when the new Congress convenes in July.
While the non-passage of the Bangsamro Bill has made it difficult for the peace process to move forward and increased uncertainty on the ground, the path remains clear as the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro remains signed and in place, together with the many peace infrastructure established through it, Ferrer said.
“The CAB remains our most viable road map, the source of the substance of the policies and legislation that we will continue to pursue under the next administration and the 17th Congress,” she said.
“The next administration would be foolhardy to wage war, and [will have] everything to gain by upholding this pathway. It will have enough time to see both the CAB and a CAB-compliant law realized.”
Ferrer urged her counterpart in the MILF to join the government in finding ways to avoid actions that may increase the frustrations.
“The MILF and the government shall jointly find ways and means to address this dangerous situation and avoid actions that may increase the frustrations,” she said.
Addressing the Filipino people directly, Iqbal said that everyone should “work together to overcome the barriers to peace, justice and reconciliation.”
“Let us end the war, the suffering, the tragedy and pains of our peoples, of the soldiers and our heroic fighters, of our mothers and sisters, of our children. Let us try to live quiet and peaceful lives,” he said.