Peace groups to GPH-MILF panels: “Negotiate A Political Settlement Now!”

Press Release

April 27, 2011


The Davao City-based peace advocacy group Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) has called on both the GPH and the MILF panels to focus their discussions in coming up with a mutually acceptable political formula that will finally resolve the root causes of the armed conflict in Mindanao.

MPC Chair Reu Montecillo, a protestant pastor from Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, said in a rally today that the peace panels should immediately deliver the working drafts of a peace agreement that address the Bangsamoro’s demand for self-governance, power and wealth-sharing rather than divert their attention on peripheral issues and technicalities.

Today, the government and MILF peace panels started the two-day 24th round of exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia amid pronouncement of government that it plans to conclude the already 12-year-old negotiations in the next 12 months.

Pastor Montecillo said that “since the timeframe set by the government to finally reach a negotiated settlement with the MILF is 12 months, there is a need to fast track the talks so that both panels can soon come up with an agreement on the substantial agenda of negotiation.”

The MILF has already laid down its proposal for a sub-state which will be governed by the Bangsamoro with corresponding details on power-sharing and resources-sharing, among others.

“We hope that this meeting in Malaysia will finally discuss the points in the comprehensive compact and that the next meeting of the GPH-MILF panel will be the formal negotiation that should logically lead to the signing of an inclusive peace agreement agreeable to both parties and acceptable to the majority of the stakeholders,” Montecillo stressed to a crowd of peace advocates that formed a “human chain for peace” in a crowded place fronting the biggest mall in Davao City.

The church minister called on “all church leaders of different churches in the Philippines and the world to support and pray for the success of the negotiations,” saying peace makers would “ultimately be blessed for their efforts in trying to realize the kingdom of God here on earth.”

Montecillo also requested the business sector to “take a pro-active role in ensuring that the peace process in Mindanao would succeed because a peaceful environment, no doubt, will always produce a climate conducive for investment and business.”

“Mindanao has unlimited untapped business potentials. Once there is peace, we are almost sure that business activity in Mindanao may be doubled, or, even tripled,” he said.

The peace advocates, who formed a 200-meter human chain along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City held posters calling for an inclusive peace agreement and negotiated settlement. They also wore individual cut-out letters that spelled out that “Mindanaons support the GPH-MILF peace talks.”

Yesterday, some 10,000 people from Central Mindanao also joined a caravan of some 500 vehicles that ceremonially sent-off the peace negotiators who flew to Kuala Lumpur to the the two-day talk. ###