MILF urges critics of homeland accord to back peace process

The chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Mohager Iqbal on Thursday said that there is no need for North Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan and all the members of the province's legislative body to ask the Supreme Court (SC) to disclose the controversial ancestral domain agreement.

Iqbal said the Philippine government and MILF peace panels are set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain on August 5 following the breakthrough in the peace process last week.

"I’m not a lawyer but the higher court would only act on something that pertains to legal matter. Anyway, the signing would be very short and it will be immediately released to the public and to the media," Iqbal said. He said the signing of the accord is a political, not a legal issue.

Iqbal said that Sacdalan and Vice Gov. Emmanuel Piñol's action is a clear manifestation of their objection to the peace process.

"I think it’s not good. We are trying to find solutions in the problem here in Mindanao but here comes the two public officials who are in contrast... Ultimately, it will not be in favor to them because it would appear they are anti-peace process," said Iqbal.

Sacdalan, Piñol and all the board members of the province of North Cotabato went to Manila Wednesday and filed their petition before the SC.

Early last week, local officials from the province already signified their strong statement not to be included in the proposed expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) through a resolution.

Postponement of ARMM polls sought

Iqbal, meantime, cited two important reasons why the leadership of the MILF asked the government to postpone the election in the ARMM.

First, if the electoral process will push through in the ARMM this August 11, 2008, officials who would be elected would end their term in 2011 which is way beyond President Arroyo's term. He said this will create an impression that the government is not really determined to finish the peace process during the term of the president.

The second is that if the Philippine government and MILF peace panels finally sign an agreement, there is still a transition period to be followed. Iqbal said that the transition period will start immediately after the end of the terms of office of all elected local executives, including the officials of the ARMM.

"Meaning kahit magkaroon kami ng pirmahan, it will take effect after 2011. These are the direct implications of ARMM election. That’s why we requested the government for the postponement of ARMM election," he said.

MOA signing to push through

Iqbal, however, clarified that the ARMM elections and MOA signing are both important events, but the two activities are not interconnected.

If the ARMM polls will not be postponed, the signing on ancestral domain will definitely go through on August 5, clarified Iqbal.

"Ipagpalagay natin hindi na kaya na i-postpone ang election, tuloy pa rin ang signing sa Kuala Lumpur on August," Iqbal added.

Iqbal said that if the signing of the ancestral domain framework is successful, the Philippine government-MILF peace panels would immediately proceed to the discussion on the final peace agenda--the political solution.

"We will proceed to discuss the most important of the peace process, the final agenda which is the political solution to the problem in Mindanao," he said.

"We are looking at a time frame before the term of Arroyo ends in 2010. We are looking at more than one year. Hopefully we will be able to hold our discussion and come up with our comprehensive compact," Iqbal said.

The MILF has urged all Muslims, Christians and indigenous peoples in Mindanao to support the peace process. Iqbal said supporting the peace process is the only logical way to resolve problem in Mindanao, and not through armed conflict.

"Kasi dito sa pag-uusap, lahat tayo panalo; sa giyera, talo. Ang mga Muslims and Christians, dapat magkaroon tayo ng unity of effort and unity of intention, dapat suportahan natin ito," he said. (By LERIO BOMPAT; ABS-CBN Cotabato )