From Rappler (Dec 8): Gov't, MILF agree on power sharing
The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are one step closer to signing a final peace pact.
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The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are one step closer to signing a final peace pact.
Both sides have agreed on and are set to sign a crucial deal on how power will be shared between the central government and the proposed Bangsamoro political entity during talks in Kuala Lumpur Sunday night, December 8.
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BREAKING: The GPH and MILF peace panels just completed the Annex on Power Sharing. Signing to follow shortly.
The deal will provide for a ministerial form of government for the new political entity in Mindanao.
Sources said the panels will sign the power-sharing annex without a deal on the so-called "Bangsamoro waters"– the most contentious issue in the peace talks.
It will be taken up as a separate item when the panels reconvene in January.
Aside from the Bangsamoro waters issue, both sides only need to resolve the annex on normalization, which involves sensitive issues on decommissioning of arms and structure of the police force.
In July, both sides signed the wealth-sharing annex, which provided for a 75-25 arrangement on metallic minerals in favor of the Bangsamoro and automatic appropriations for the proposed entity. They signed the transition annex in February.
For this round, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda graced the talks as an observer. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles was also in Kuala Lumpur to witness the signing. (READ: Palace emissaries arrive in KL for GPH-MILF talks)
The signing of the power-sharing annex comes 3 months after MILF's rival group, the Moro National Liberation Front, attacked and held Zamboanga City hostage after it felt left out in the peace process. (READ: Zambo crisis: The fog of war)