Palace announces new panel members in MILF talks
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/23/2008 5:15 PM
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A day after President Arroyo reiterated her administration’s commitment to restart the peace process in Mindanao with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the appointment of three more members of the government’s negotiating panel was announced by Malacañang Tuesday.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the new members are: Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, former South Cotabato Rep. Adelbert Antonino, and indigenous peoples leader Ronald Adamat.
Esperon said Pangandaman would also represent the Muslim community and continuity in the negotiations since he was a member of the previous panel chaired then by Rodolfo Garcia. Esperon said that Antonino meanwhile would represent local government executives and uphold the interest of Christians as well as Muslims and Lumads in SOCSKSARGEN in the negotiations.
The government’s negotiating panel would also include former sectoral reporesentative in the House of Representatives Ronald Adamat who would represent the Lumads.
Mrs. Arroyo last December 1 had announced the appointment of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis as head of the government’s negotiating panel.
Esperon said that the fifth member of the panel would be “announced shortly pending further consultations and representation of more sectors.
The presidential peace adviser said however that even with four members the government panel “is ready to conduct dialogues, strategize and soon formally engage the MILF panel.”
Peace talks with the MILF have been suspended for almost four months after “rogue” MILF members launched attacks, especially in Lanao del Norte, Sarangani and North Cotabato, after the government no longer signed the proposed Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.
Esperon also said that President Arroyo has ordered the formation of a security team and economic team that would help the government panel in the negotiations.
While no date has been set for resumption of negotiations, Esperon said that government would continue to consult with stakeholders in Mindanao.
“The president has instructed the panel to conduct dialogues to tandem with ongoing dialogue on the ground”, said Esperon. With a report of Nadia Trinidad, ABS-CBN News
