GRP, MILF agree to move the peace process forward
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept 15 – Described as a major breakthrough, the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) agreed here tonight to create an International
Contact Group (ICG) to break the yearlong stalled negotiations and move the peace process forward.
GRP spokesman Bong Montesa, who is also the assistant secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser
on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the negotiation for the creation of the ICG “was tough, but in the end, the
paramount interest of securing a peaceful and bright future for the people of Mindanao triumphed and was
affirmed by both parties.”
Signing for the Philippine government was Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis, GRP chairman, while Mohagher
Iqbal, signed for the MILF.
The signing was witnessed by Malaysian government facilitator Datuk Othman BinAbdul Razak.
Montesa both the GRP and MILF panels made their “commitment to find a just and lasting peace in Mindanao
by agreeing to create an International Contact Group.”
The ICG will consist of interested countries and international non-government organizations (NGOs) that will
aid in building consensus that will effectively enable them to exert proper leverage and to sustain the interest
of the Parties as well as maintain a level of comfort that restores mutual trust," Montesa added.
According to the Agreement, the ICG "will consist of interested countries accompanying the peace process
preferably drawn from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union (EU) as well
as accredited international NGOs to be invited by the Parties in consultation with the Third Party Facilitator"
which is Malaysia.
Seguis expressed the belief that “the engagement of the ICG is a major breakthrough in the pursuit for a
durable peace in Mindanao and hopes that this will now pave the way for the formal resumption of the peace
talks.
The GRP, MILF negotiations broke down in August last year following the aborted signing of the controversial
Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which was declared as unconstitutional by the
Philippine Supreme Court.
But despite the collapse of the peace talks and the fighting that broke out in some parts of Central Mindanao,
the GRP and MILF panels continued to open the doors for the resumption of the peace talks through back-
channeling negotiations.
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PRESS STATEMENT OF SECRETARY AVELINO I. RAZON JR. ON THE LATEST
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GRP AND MILF PANELS IN KUALA LUMPUR
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Late last night I received news, a good one, from Kuala Lumpur from our GRP panel chair Ambassador Rafael
E. Siguis about a major breakthrough that would pave the way for the resumption of the stalled negotiations
with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines welcomes this new development in our peace process that
will eventually end the long-drawn armed conflict in Mindanao.
Both the GRP and MILF signed a historic agreement to form an International Contact Group (ICG) composed
of interested countries and international non-government organizations (NGOs) that will aid in building
consensus that will effectively enable them to exert proper leverage and to sustain the interest of both the GRP
and MILF so as to maintain a level of comfort aimed at restoring mutual trust.
We have been praying to God and our fervent prayers have been answered by the Almighty that the long
overdue peace talks with the MILF would finally resume.
I am overwhelmed by this latest development. I am sure the Filipino people – both Christians and Muslims –
will be delighted to hear that the armed conflict in southern Philippines will be a thing of the past.
It is the clamor of every Filipino that peace will rein n our beloved country. We have suffered so much. The time
has come to end the fighting now! Tens of thousands of lives have been lost and likewise tens of billions of
pesos have been wasted which we could have channeled to development.
I am looking forward that formal peace talks will resume soonest to be followed by a final peace agreement
between the government and MILF. I believe that peace is within our grasp. Let us seize this opportunity to
forge a lasting peace which the Filipinos are waiting for us our gift to the generations yet to come.
With God’s help and support of the Filipino people, we will not fail.
At this point, let me thank Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis, chair of the GRP panel, and his MILF counterpart, Mr.
Mohagher Iqbal and all the panel members of both sides for their understanding and courage in pursuing
peace at this most crucial time in our history as a nation.
God bless the Philippines and Mabuhay!
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