Amid the “difficult issues” being faced by the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front Liberation (MILF) with the resumption of peace negotiations, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles is optimistic that both panels will be able to build on what they agreed last month.

 

"We are hoping that the next round of talks will be able to build on the gains established with the signing of the Decision Points on Principles during the April meeting,” Deles said in a press statement released Monday.

 

The Philippine government and MILF are now discussing the Decision Points on Principles, which Deles said involves “difficult issues which may test the will and patience of the two parties.”

 

The 28th exploratory talks started Monday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is expected to last for three days or until May 30.

 

Last April, the two panels agreed on and signed the Decision Points on Principles, a landmark document which spells out a 10-point guide on the substantive issues of the negotiations.

 

In a statement, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process said chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen maintains a “cautious optimism” for this month’s round of talks.

 

In preparation for the May talks, the government panel consulted various stakeholders including senators, congressmen, local chief executives in Mindanao, business leaders, Ulama or Muslim scholars, and members of the Organization on Islamic Cooperation-Peace Committee on Southern Philippines to know their sentiments and have their inputs on the peace process.

 

“We pray for the two panels to be able to bridge the gaps between the parties' positions and expand common grounds towards the peace our people have long desired and which our country badly needs to achieve lasting progress," said Deles.

 

On the first day of the talks, both panels held an executive session for the preliminary discussion of the decision points.

 

Only the members of the two panels and the Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato' Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed were present during the session.

 

Members of the International Contact Group who sit as observers in the peace negotiations were not included in the session but will join them on Tuesday, when the formal meeting resumes.

 

Both sides will discuss details of power-sharing, wealth-sharing, governance, geographical areas and normalization to serve as inputs for the peace pact. —Amita Legaspi/VS, GMA News