As formal exploratory peace talks resumed in Malaysia this week, the Philippine government's peace negotiators submitted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) what they called a "three for one" peace proposal. Chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen said the government's proposal involves “three important components for one solution to the Bangsamoro problem." In a news release posted on Tuesday on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) website, Leonen said the components include:
a political settlement or a peace accord with the MILF massive economic development in Mindanao, and cultural-historical acknowledgement. “The government proposal took a lot of views into consideration (but) this is still a first document, a work-in-progress," Leonen said. The latest round of talks came after President Benigno Simeon Aquino III met with top MILF officials in Japan on August 4. In a separate report, the government peace panel said 11 characteristics define the proposal: practicality partnership arrangements political comprehensiveness implementability good governance continuous dialogue empowered autonomy system of cooperation in ecological and cultural issues normalization through weapons disarmament and demobilization public support historical appreciation. Kato issue Meanwhile, the MILF formally asked the Philippine government to give them 10 days after Eid’l Fitr to resolve the status of Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato and his group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Leonen had asked for a confirmation on the status of Kato during the Malaysia talks. “We cannot accept that he is still part of the MILF," Leonen said, citing the attacks by Kato and his group, as well as his alleged recruitment of child soldiers. “If he is truly a splinter group, we would have to assess the situation together in a very serious and sensitive manner," Leonen added. MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal, in his opening statement, said Kato remains a “challenge for the MILF." The OPAPP cited a resolution filed by the MILF Central Committee that Kato has been declared as a “bougat or one who defies or does not obey an order. Feuding between families Meanwhile, Leonen also asked the MILF to address the "rido" or feuding between families, among its base commands. “A total of 17 rido related incidents involving at least a commander of the MILF base command has been recorded," Leonen said. Some 695 families have also reportedly been displaced in Datu Piang, Maguindanao due to the fighting between the 106th base command and Kato’s group. In the rido between some members of the 105th base command against the 104th base command, 1,596 families (or 7,980 people) from six villages in Palembang, Sultan Kudarat were displaced, he added. - VVP, GMA News 
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