BY ATTY. BONG MONTESA

Upon the invitation of the British Embassy in Manila, International Alert and AIM, I listened to Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, former Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland, share his experiences and thoughts on “Post-settlement and Powersharing in Divided Societies: The Experience of Northern Ireland and Insights for Mindanao and the Philippines” at the Asian Institute of Management.

By Patricio P. Diaz | Wednesday|

IV. MILF Response (Continuation 1: Reiterations)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Right in the morning after the historic meeting in Tokyo of President Aquino and Chairman Murad, Government and MILF issued official statements that showed in principle their understanding. The optimism for a peace agreement to be signed soon that the statements had generated turned out to be a misunderstanding of the understanding in principle.

By Patricio P. Diaz | Thursday| September 29, 2011

IV. MILF’s Response

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – As the North Star was to ancient sailors, so “Continuity” is to MILF in their negotiation with the Philippine Government. “Follow the North Star or you get lost” was the first commandment of ancient sailors. Following the Declaration of Continuity is the only way to go forward is MILF’s unbending position.

By Patricio P. Diaz | Friday| September 23, 2011

III. Candid Notes 2 (A Closer View)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY  — The “GPH ‘3 for 1’ Solution” is the alternative to the Comprehensive Compact. It has three components: massive economic development, political settlement, and cultural-historical acknowledgment [through retelling of history]. It, however, is more an alternative to the GRP-MILF Tripoli Agreement of Peace of 2001 – a 3-aspect solution to the Bangsamoro Problem.