Razon: RP ready to resume talks with MILF
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MANILA, Sept. 17 – With the recent signing of the Framework Agreement for the Formation of the International
Contact Group for the GRP-MILF Peace Process, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino I. Razon
Jr. today expressed the hope that the peace panels will be able to agree on the remaining preliminary
matters so that they can begin formal negotiations soonest.
“From where we stand, we believe the prospects are very good for the resumption of the formal negotiations
within the year,” Razon said his remarks at the Policy Dialogue Series attended by officials of the Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) at Astoria Hotel in suburban Pasig City.
Earlier, the government and the MILF signed an agreement in Kuala Lumpur to create an International Contact
Group (ICG) to help to build confidence and trust to both parties to pave the way for the resumption of
negotiations that were stalled a year ago following the botched signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on
Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which the Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional.
Razon hailed the agreement signed by both the GRP and MILF in Kuala Lumpur last Tuesday as a major
breakthrough to move the peace process forward.
Signing for the government was Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis, chair of the GRP peace panel, while Mohagher
Iqbal signed for the MILF.
Razon also said that both the government and the MILF have committed to find a just and lasting peace in
southern Philippines with the creation of the ICG.
The ICG will compose of interested countries accompanying the peace process preferably from the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union (EU) as well as accredited international
non-government organizations invited by the GRP and MILF in consultation with Malaysia as third party
facilitator.
Razon stressed the need to have a lasting peace, saying “Filipinos must realize that we cannot attain peace
and development separately – as geographic regions, social classes, or religious groupings isolated from
one another.”
“Indeed, our basic strength must come from our unity, solidarity and teamwork in spite of our cultural diversity
and archipelagic configuration.”
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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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