By Anny Murshid

September 24, 2012 News: Some 764 people have participated in a community symposium organized by the community leaders of a North Cotabato town village as part of the information drive on the development of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held at the Luwanan Elementary School, Luwanan, Aleosan, North Cotabato last September 15, 2012.

Said Atang, Luwanan Barangay Captain, welcomed the participants and explained that this forum will clarify some misleading information about the peace process.

“I can’t find a single word that can describe my feelings in seeing all of you here unified for a single goal, and that is to attain peace in our homeland,” he said with tears almost falling in his cheeks.

“Let’s respect and give leeway to our leaders and peace negotiators as they have been doing their best in the negotiations in order come up with a peace agreement that will finally place Mindanao in peace,” he added.

He called on everybody not to be in hurry as peace can’t be attained by just a click of seconds. “We need to be patient for patience is of a great virtue,” he advised.

In his opening Remark, Abdugani Dimasangkay, UNYPAD Aleosan Chapter President, emphasized that every individual plays a vital role that can push for the government and MILF realize the need to signing of a comprehensive compact that can finally answer the Bangsamoro Question and struggle for Right to Self-determination.

“I asked all of you here to fully support the GRP-MILF negotiation for negotiation is the only peaceful and democratic path towards resolving this long-standing conflict in Mindanao between the Bangsamoro and Filipino people,” he further exhorted the participants.

Dimasangkay described the negotiation as like holding a glass that everybody is obliged to hold it firmly but carefully, lest the glass will fall or crash into pieces.

“All of us are responsible for taking care of the glass as we are all aiming for a peaceful living,” he concluded.

Rahib L. Kudto, UNYPAD national president and the guest speaker, said: “I can’t give you official updates on the development of the peace process as I am not directly part of the GPH-MILF peace talks.”

“However, as far as I know, the peace process has been moving forward, although no one can tell that peace agreement would surely be arrived at,” he said, quoting Mohagher Iqbal that in negotiation, there is no agreement until the parties agreed and signed a document.

“Though there are already substantive gains in the negotiations especially in coming up with a framework agreement, the peace panels are still in the discussions on remaining tough issues on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, demobilization, among others,” he added.

Kudto disclosed that, as far as he knew, the peace panels will meet again this month to continue the discussions of remaining unresolved issues.

“What is important for now is that the peace panels are still talking peace,” he pointed out.

Asked about the possibility of signing this month, he said ‘only God knows.’ He just told the participants that the GPH peace panel Chair Marvic Leonin has expressively pronounced that the government is doing its best finish the negotiation or sign an agreement with the MILF within this year.