Manila: Peace negotiations between the government and Moro rebels are moving forward, but the lead government negotiator said the pace is just not fast enough to achieve the objectives of President Benigno Aquino's administration.
The Aquino administration has set its sights on the substantial completion of a peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) by the first quarter of the year.
However, the pace of negotiations may not be progressing fast enough for the impending pact to have a maximum and immediate impact on the overall peace framework in Mindanao, government panel chairperson Marvic Leonen has said.
"The government was earnest in moving towards the crafting of a peace agreement. That would have been the best move forward for both panels," Leonen said.
The three-month period is said to be the most opportune "window time" for the negotiating parties to settle at an agreement.
Minor corrections
While Aquino's term expires in 2016, the remaining time in his tenure — once the agreement is sealed — will be spent on overseeing the implementation of the pact and instituting minor corrections to the overall peace framework. The three-day 24th formal exploratory talks between the two parties ended on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The talks had centred on the issue of the formation of a "sub-state" for the Moro rebels in Mindanao.
In a joint statement released at the conclusion of the talks, both parties confirmed "constructive discussions on substantive issues" such as "the concept of governance and the listing of reserved powers of the National Government."
Likewise, it stated that "both parties clarified their positions, tentatively identified areas of common ground and agreed to consult with their principals on outstanding issues."
Both the government and the MILF "also considered the drafting of road maps towards the resolution of the Bangsamoro question."
Outstanding issues
During the closing ceremony, Leonen said that he arrived in Malaysia with a full delegation, including the panel members, secretariat and the heads of the government ceasefire mechanisms "because we want to achieve and resolve as many of the outstanding issues as possible."
"We have mentioned principled, just, political opportunities and strong foundations for a long-standing solution to the Bangsamoro question during the negotiations as government's firm commitment to the peace process," Leonen said, emphasising that, "we have laid our cards on the table."
