Palace welcomes signing of GPH-MILF wealth-sharing annex July 14, 2013 1:23pm Malacañang on Sunday welcomed the signing of the annex on wealth-sharing between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Malaysia Saturday night. But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also warned some armed groups that the military will “act accordingly” in responding to acts of harassment. “Masaya tayo sa development (We are happy with the development). It’s certainly a step forward in the peace process,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. On Saturday night, the peace panels of both sides signed the annex on wealth-sharing, an issue that had threatened to stall the peace talks. Valte also said President Benigno Aquino is glad that the annex has been signed, saying this shows the commitment of both sides to peace. “Tingin ko masaya ang pangulo may napirmahan nang wealth-sharing annex and both sides were able to demonstrate their commitment to fulfilling aspirations the of the Bangsamoro (I believe Aquino is glad that the wealth-sharing annex had been signed and both sides demonstrated their commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the Bangsamoro),” she said. But she also warned groups against continuing to harass government troops in Mindanao, saying the Armed Forces of the Philippines “will act accordingly.” Meanwhile, Valte declined to comment on the finer details of the annex, saying presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles and the government peace panel will return to Manila Monday and hold a media briefing. Earleir on Sunday, an MILF official said the signing of the wealth-sharing annex may not stop the recent clashes in Mindanao. MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said that if the wealth-sharing agreement is not popular among the Bangsamoro, some groups could use it as an excuse to launch attacks. "Kung hindi ito very popular sa mga Bangsamoro masses, lalo sa mga leader..., nangangamba ako na baka gawin nilang justification sa pagsagawa katulad ng sinagawa ng BIFF na pagsalakay kahapon hanggang kagabi," Jaafar said in an interview on dzBB radio. He was referring to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Ameril Umbra Kato, who the MILF had described as a rogue commander. Kato had led attacks in Mindanao as early as 2008, when the Supreme Court thumbed down a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF. The BIFF launced attacks Saturday, ambushing a military truck in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao. — LBG, GMA News
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 06:52:03 +0000
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