June 27, 2012 News: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Philippines (GPH) joint efforts for step-up cooperation for the Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly to be held at Camp Darapanan on July 6-10, 2012 had kicked off.

During their 42nd Regular Meeting held in Davao City the past two days, the GPH and MILF Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) had agreed to start undertake coordination and measures in support for the success of the Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly.

The GPH and MILF CCCH, in their Joint Statement issued after their meeting, stated “Both Committees commit to step up their coordination and cooperation during the conduct of the Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly at Camp Darapanan on July 6-10, 2012.”

BGen Gilberto Jose Roa AFP, Chairman of the GPH CCCH, and Said Shiek, Chairman of the MILF CCCH, signed the Joint Statement yesterday. His Excellency MGen Datuk Abdul Rahim bin Mohd Yusuff, Head of Mission of the Malaysia-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) witnessed the signing of the statement.

Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Negotiating Panel, and Marvic Leonen, Chairman of the GPH Peace Negotiating Panel, took part as Guests of Honor, for the Opening Program and Closing Program, respectively, of the 42nd GPH – MILF CCCH Regular Meeting.

One of the measures agreed upon by the CCCHs is the holding of a coordination conference involving the MILF CCCH, GPH CCCH, IMT, representatives from the Steering Committee for the Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly, Philippine National Police, the 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, and the local government of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao in the next couple of days.

The21st Tripartite Meeting of the GPH CCCH, MILF CCCH and the International Monitoring Team (IMT) which was presided over by MGen Abdul Rahim and assisted his Deputy Head of Mission BGen Datuk Zulkapli and IMT contingents from Brunei and Norway had took place fruitfully after the 42nd regular Meeting.

Dean Leonen said he and all the members of the GPH Peace Panel and Secretary Teresita “Ging” Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will be attending the Assembly in Darapanan.

The MILF said 500,000 people are expected to grace the Assembly. In 2005, the MILF convened a General Consultation also in Darapanan wherein the number of participants had reached to more than 1,000,000.

MILF CCCH Chairman Shiek said the Assembly has significant bearing on the current peace talks between the government and MILF.

The MILF has invited as official guests Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), His Excellency Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ehsanoglu, and His Excellency Ambassador Sayed Kassem El-Masry, OIC Special Envoy for Peace in Southern Philippines; and the  Malaysian Facilitator of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation, His Excellency Dato’ Tengku Ab’ Ghafar bin Tengku Mohamed.

Also invited are Honorable Secretary of the Presidential Adviser on the peace process (OPAPP) Teresita “Ging” Deles-Quintos, government peace panel chairman, Dean Marvic Leonen and his entire team, members of the International Contact Group (ICG), both states and none-states, MNLF Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari, MNLF-Committee of 12 Chairman Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema, Major General Dato’ Abdul Raheem bin Mohammad Yusuff, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT)-7, Madame Elezabeth Decry-Warner, president of Geneva Call, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of North Cotabato, Congressmen Tupay Loong, Bai Sandra Sema, Pangalian Balindong, and Jesus Sacdalan; Governors Abdulsakur Tan, Toto Mangudadatu, Sadikol Sahali, Mamintal Adiong, Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, Suharto Mangudadatu, Khaled Dimaporo, and Jum Akbar; Mayor Japal Guiani, and Mayor Datu Tocao Ahmad Mastura; and Datu Pax Mangudadatu, Rajah Buayan sa Buayan.

Members of the diplomatic community in Manila, heads of international and national non-government organizations, government aid agencies, the United Nations agencies operating in Mindanao, and members of local, national, and international media groups are also invited.

Members of the indigenous tribes in Mindanao especially the T’durays, B’laans, Subanens, and Manobos are also invited to the affair, and organizers expect them to wear their traditional costumes.