February 28, 2010 – The women’s group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) convenes today at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao for a consultation on the current status of the peace process between the MILF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

Participants are expected to reach to hundreds coming from the various MILF women’s groups from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.


MILF Central Committee with its Peace Negotiating Panel headed by Mohagher Iqbal spearhead the consultation for the purpose of inculcating substantial understanding amongst MILF’s women about the GRP - MILF peace process and negotiations imbued with international legitimacy.

The GRP-MILF Agreements on the Formation of International Contact Group (ICG) and Civilian Protection, redeployment of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao, proposed draft Comprehensive Peace Compact, and the significant roles to be played by the women in the larger context of the peace process.

The chair of the women’s committee, in her SMS reply to some clarifications by this website, stressed that the women’s group of the MILF, comprising of thousands of members, is totally supportive to the peace process of MILF and the government.

“The Bangsamoro women’s sector fully supports the MILF central leadership in its peace overtures with the government,” she said.

“We want to be further enlightened and properly guided particularly on what roles, critical at that, we have to play in order to be of help to the peace process between the MILF and the government,” she said.

She expressed belief that the government must be sincere enough and must exercise strong political will in order for the peace process to succeed despite all the difficulties and stiff challenges.

Jun Mantawil, the Chairman of Secretariat of the MILF Peace Panel, said the MILF recognizes and gives importance on the active participation of the women on the peace process.

“The women and the youth play critical roles,” Manatwil said, adding that “they are the cornerstones of our undertakings and keep the heart of the peace process strong and passionate.”

The government and MILF after their meeting in Kuala Lumpur last month and facilitated by the Malaysian Third party Facilitator agreed to conduct intensified consultations with their constituencies on the peace process, particularly on the draft proposals for GRP – MILF Comprehensive Peace Compact.

Toks Ebrahim, Chairman of the MILF Ceasefire Committee, informed that this consultation was properly coordinated with the government.