October 29, 2012 News: The 3rd round of informal dialogue between the leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was concluded yesterday in Davao City.

Leaders of the two Moro Fronts said the dialogue was undertaken in the spirit of Islamic principles of brotherhood, unity and cooperation geared for the realization of common as aspirations for freedom and right to self-determination of the Bangsamoro.

Dr. Abdurahman Amin of the MNLF and Mohagher Iqbal of the MILF led the dialogue. More than 20 leaders from both Fronts that came from Maguindanao, Sulu, Lanao, and Davao participated.

The MILF and MNLF leaders expressed their commitment to strengthen and concretize parallel directions, collective and complementary efforts, and coordination mechanisms toward achieving justice, peace and development for the Bangsamoro.

A Unity and Advocacy Committee was organized composed of equal representation from the two sides being headed by an Aleem (Islamic scholar) that will work for the empowerment and strengthening of unity of the Bangsamoro through da’wah and education.

An Ad Hoc Joint Secretariat was also created for the continuing dialogue between the two Front.

Leaders of the MNLF welcomed with pleasure the recently signed historic GPH – MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, even as they congratulated the MILF for achieving the agreement which they called as “a milestone and formidable.”

Meantime, the MILF and MNLF leaders called for restrain and ceasefire in the fighting between the government and MNLF forces that flared up at Sitio Gundungan, Daruma, Patikul, Sulu early morning yesterday.

“The time now is for peace and we strongly appeal that the fighting shall be ceased and avoid escalation in order to give way to peaceful means of addressing issues and concerns,” they said.

Dr. Amin said MNLF forces under Vice Chairman Tahir Usman were harvesting their crops when the troops of the Philippine Marines stormed the area and the firefight ensued.

Casualties on the government and MNLF forces were reported.

“If the military is saying they encountered the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), then it is clearly a wrong encounter,” Dr Amin said.