Monday in Malaysia the 28th GPH-MILF formal exploratory peace talks renewed the three day, dialogue lasts until May 30 in KL.
panel conducted consultations with various stakeholders, which included senators, congressmen, local chief executives in Mindanao, business leaders, Ulama, and members of the Organization on Islamic Cooperation – Peace Committee on Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP) to know their sentiments and gather their inputs on the GPH-MILF peace process.
In US sponsored and Malaysian backed peace talks the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front resumed talks.Monday marked to date, the Government panel says a total of 96 consultations between the two sides..
In a statement issued to media, "A month since Decision Points on Principles, a landmark document which contains 10 points that will serve as a guide on the substantive issues of the negotiations."
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is one of the largest armed seperatists groups in the Philippines. On-and-off agian talks have broken down over splits between hardliers seekiing a fully seperate government and others willing ti discuss automony that will seek to address the issues of the more than three decade long rebellion mostly in the Southern Philippine Island of Mindanao.
Philippine government and the MILF panels engaged in an executive session for a preliminary discussion on "the substantive agenda." the news release went on to say on monday in Kuala Lampur.
The Executive sessions are attended by the two panels and the Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed only. Members of the International Contact Group (ICG) who sit as observers in the GPH-MILF peace negotiations are not present during these sessions
Marvic Leonen chief Philippine government negotiator says “cautious optimism” exists between the groups.
"This month’s round of talks as the government peace panel arrived in the Malaysian capital after several consultations, forums and dialogues on the content, concept and rationale of the Decision Points on Principles.” Leonen said in a statement released by the government side of the Peace Panel..
The ICG will be joining again in tomorrow’s formal proceedings between the two parties where details on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, governance, geographical areas and normalization are expected to be tackled, to serve as inputs for the peace pact.