Government working on continuation of Moro peace process beyond Aquino’s term

Manila: The Philippine government said it is working to ensure the continuation of the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front even after President Benigno Aquino III steps down from office in June.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr, said the government plans to conduct consultations with stakeholders, in the peace process in the South, particularly with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) which signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the government peace panel in 2014.

Although the momentum of the peace process that Aquino had inherited from the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remain, the impetus was not enough to carry it past the stage where lawmakers would pass a law to ensure its continuation.

Lawmakers from both chambers of Congress — the Senate and the House of Representatives, had been unable to hammer out a unified measure and affirm the proposed BBL despite efforts by Aquino to certify it as an “urgent measure.”

Earlier, Moro lawmakers have given up on passing a self-govern law for Muslims in the South within the term of Aquino until June 2016, as some legislators accused their fellow solons of deliberately dragging their feet so the measure will not become an edict.

Aquino early on in his term had certified the BBL as an urgent measure, but with only four months left into his six years term, the proposed edict yet to be passed by Congress.