March 2, 2010 - More than 200 community leaders, Christians, Muslims and tribal Bagobo and Mandaya from Davao City, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental graced the peace advocacy cum consultation by the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel held at a school site in Sirawan Beach, Davao City last February 27, 2010.

“This peace advocacy - consultation is for all because peace is for all and justice as an objective of a legitimate struggle and revolution can only be attained when people are well informed,” MILF Peace Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal forthrightly said as he delved on the updates of the peace process with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

Chief Negotiator Iqbal cited four essential developments in the peace process: (1.) The identity of the Moros is established from mere tribal into a national identity; (2.) Moro organized struggle, resistance and capacity to resist; (3.) Moro issues being highly internationalized; (4.) Negotiation based on new formulation and driven along whatever is not provided in the GRP – Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

“Dapat magsama-sama, magtulung-tulungan tayo (We have to act together, help one another) on these core issues concerning the Bangsamoro people,” Iqbal stressed, adding “the MILF is committed to strengthen the awareness and support of all people in the peace process.”

Explaining why the negotiation takes too long, he recounted every event that transpired since 1997, the wars declared by the government against the MILF and Bangsamoro communities in 2000 and 2003, and the international sham with the aborted signing of the GRP-MILF Memorandum Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in 2008 due to the reneged on commitment by the government, which caused renewed armed confrontations between government and MILF forces in Mindanao.

Moreover, Iqbal shared information on what transpired last month during their attendance in the GRP–MILF meeting in Kuala Lumpur capped by the exchanged of drafts on Comprehensive Peace Compact under the auspices of the Malaysian Third Party Facilitator. He said that the panels are expected to meet again in Malaysia in the next few days.

Members of the MILF Central Committee and Atty. Abdul Dataya, Chairman for the MILF Ad-hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), and MILF Ceasefire Committee were also speakers during the forum.
Atty. Datu Michael Mastura, Senior Member of the MILF Peace Panel opted to devote his part to a lively questions and answers session with the participants. As prelude, he recalled that in 1976, an agreement was reached after a negotiation between the dictator President Marcos and President Khadaffy (for the MNLF) but the agreement was not implemented because of a phrase “constitutional limitation”.

He pointed out the latest mode of negotiation i.e. the Bougainville peace process that has to adjunct the Constitution with the international agreement.

“Kaning Peace Negotiation naa ni sa Qur-an. Gi-ingon: Kung ang atubang nimo mudool ug mangayog kalinaw, atubanga.” (This peace process is enshrined in the Holy Qur’an: If your enemy comes to peace, so you must come to peace.) He continued explaining about Darul Islam (Territory of Islam) and Darul Harb (Enemy Territory) and Hud (Truce).

“Mao gayod nga naa ta sa negotiating table. Sunod karon ang tanan nga gina-offer naa naman sa balaod. Katong mu-sign ug executive order ang Pangulo ug katong mupakusog sa Shariah, sa Organic Act ug sa iba pa, puwede man na na- sign long ago. Kung ang ginapangita law reform, muadto nalang ta kag Speaker Nograles, sa House of Representative o sa Senado, dili na lang ta sa negotiation.” (It is good that we are in negotiation but we negotiate based on principle. But what are being offered now are already in the law. That signing of Executive Orders, strengthening Shariah and Organic Act for ARMM, etc. could have been signed long ago. If we are only after for law reform then we should have gone to Speaker Nograles of the House of Representative or the Senate, and don’t have to pursue negotiation anymore).

Asked if an agreement can be signed within Arroyo’s term, the MILF Peace Panel responded not with categorical answer but cited what can be accomplished at maximum owing to the very short period remaining with the present administration.

However, the MILF panel reiterated its commitment and assurance to pursue the peace process and the negotiation.