May 25, 2012 News: The Informal Meeting between leaders and peace negotiators of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) held in Davao City last May 19, 2012 ended with encouraging positive notes.

This was learned today from Jun Mantawil, Chief Secretariat of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel, saying “the dialogue and coordination forum between the MILF and MNLF are going and doing well and we believe it will continue to yield positive results in our struggle to achieve higher interests and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for political liberation and rights to self-determination (RSD).”

Mantwail said the meeting is part and parcel of the commitment of the two fronts to establish a coordinating forum pursuant to the result of the MILF – MNLF Coordination Meeting held at Organization of Islamic Conference Headquarters last December 6-7, 2011 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Citing some documentation, Mantail said “the need to establish a mechanism for consultation and coordination is important in our continuing struggle to achieve a just and lasting peaceful solution for the full restoration of the political, civil, and economic rights of the Bangsamoro people.”

Both the MILF and MNLF delegations provided updates on the developments of the peace process with the government.

Mophagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel, delved on the 10 Decision Points of Principles, the historic and significant breakthrough, signed between the MILF and Government of the Philippines (GPH) during the last exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia last April 24, 2012.

Reverend Absalom Cervesa of the MNLF talked on the MNLF Report on the Formal Meeting of the Adhoc High-Level Group of GPH – OIC – MNLF in Bandung City, Indonesia last March 1-2, 2012.

The MILF delegation was composed of Mohagher Iqbal, chair of its peace panel, Atty. Datu Michael Mastura, Maulana Bobby Alonto, Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, Abdulla Camlian, Datu Antonio Kinoc, Jun Mantawil, Mike Pasigan, and Muhajirin Ali, Atty. Raisa Jajurie, a member of the MILF Board of Consultant. The MILF CCCH composed of Said Shiek, Chairman, and Rashid Ladiasan, served as support staff and notes-taker.

The MNLF Delegation was composed of Rev. Cervesa, Dr. Abdurahman Amin, Punduma Sani, Commander Narra, Prof. Jumdam, Benhar Usman, Bra Omar, and Arasa Jadjurie.

“It was an informal meeting, it was a warm meeting between brothers, there was no formal agenda, no definitive decisions taken other than our commitment to continue with our dialogue and coordinating forum based on the Reosultion No. 2/37 MM issued at the 37th Session of the OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in May 2010,” Mantwail stated.

“We have the commitment to work together not necessarily having an absolute unity, but unity in efforts and understanding. We are also contemplating on drawing other sectors of the Moro society particularly the Ulama in our coordinating forum,” he said.

Al Camlian and Dr. Amin in coordination with Prof. Lingga and Prof. Jumdam were tasked to work on the next round of meeting.