The Philippine government’s chief peace negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said Monday she is positive talks with the secessionist group will “achieve something” despite pending contentious issues.
Peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said both parties resumed peace talks in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in a “congenial” tone as they try to agree on the wealth-sharing and power-sharing arrangements for the proposed Bangsamoro political entity.
“We’re focusing on the options here. We had a very congenial discussion on these issues. These issues are still on the table,” Coronel-Ferrer said in an interview aired over ANC.
She added that the 38th round of peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF will last until Thursday.
The peace talks resumed months after the MILF had accused the government of delaying the signing of the peace agreement after allegedly reneging on its commitment to meet with MILF negotiators immediately after the May 10 elections and for proposing changes in the wealth-sharing agreement.
Last October, the government and the MILF signed a landmark framework agreement that would pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro territory to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). — ELR, GMA News
