October 27, 2012 News: Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), will hold a press conference today in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

This is in response to numerous requests for interview from members of the media, local, national, and international news agencies, after the successful signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Manila last October 15.

Murad, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, and President Noynoy Aquino witnessed the signing of the Framework Agreement. Also in attendance, aside from the various foreign ambassadors in Manila, were OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Ambassador Kassim El-Masry.

Dean Marvic Leonen and Mohagher Iqbal signed for the Philippine Government and the MILF, respectively. Dato Tengku Ab’Ghafar Bin Mohamed, signed as the facilitator of the GPH-MILF Peace Talks, representing Malaysia as the facilitating country.

However, before the formal signing of the document in Manila, the official text of the Agreement was initialed in Kuala Lumpur by the three officials above-named. They also signed a Deed of Attestation that the document attached therewith was negotiated and agreed by the parties.

Some 20 members of the media, mostly from Manila and Japan, have registered to attend the press briefing which will start from 9:00 in the morning today and is expected to finish before high noon.

Three of the high profile media personalities have asked for exclusive interviews with Chairman Murad, including Carol Argüelles of the Mindanews and Karen Davila of ABS-CBN-Manila.  The third, Korina Sanchez, the wife of Secretary Mar Roxas III, will have a one-on-one interview with Murad on October 30.

Assisting Murad during the press conference will be Bobby Alonto, who will facilitate the question-and-answer session.

Alonto told Luwaran that a simple rule shall apply during the question hour to wit: Anyone who wants to ask question will seek recognition first and will be entitled to one question and another follow-up question.

He said a third question and follow-up will only be allowed if all the rests have all finished, or no one is asking question anymore.