P-Noy rejected MNLF-MILF accord

Former President Benigno Aquino III has rejected a resolution of the 57-member strong Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to synchronize the peace agreements of the Philippine government with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), documents obtained by the Daily Tribune revealed yesterday.

The OIC has brokered the 1996 final peace accord between the GPH and MNLF while Malaysia brokered the MILF peace agreement.

In a strongly-worded explanatory note dated 21 March 2013 requesting closure of tripartite talks for the review of 1996 peace accord, Aquino, through his peace panel, practically told the OIC to disregard MNLF and Nur Misuari as they no longer represent the Bangsamoro People in the Philippines.

The note also pointed out that the 1996 peace accord was already implemented and OIC has nothing to do anymore with the MNLF as it is already an internal issue of the country.

“The only logical and practical step is to end the tripartite review process” the note said.

The OIC, in a resolution during the foreign ministers meeting in Conakry, Africa, has approved a resolution calling for the resumption of the tripartite talks between the government, MNLF and the OIC to discuss the final implementation of the peace agreement.

The OIC proposed that the Comprehensive Agreement of Bangsamore (CAB) be tied to the MNLF peace agreement but instead of heeding the OIC resolution the government panel issued a request to put closure to the tripartite review of the 1996 peace accord, insisting the peace accord with the MILF will fill the remaining unresolved issues with MNLF.

They claimed, however, that the peace accord with the MILF was a betrayal of the 1996 final peace agreement because it deals with the same people and territory.

The explanatory note of the Aquino peace panel, however, said the MNLF of Misuari is no longer the sole representative of Bangsamoro in the Philippines and that the OIC must acknowledge that fact.

It said the Framework agreement on the Bangsamoro signed with MILF on 15 October 15 2012 provides an opportunity to bring about comprehensive peace and development in Mindanao.