By: Sheila Covarrubias
ZAMBOANGA
CITY, May 18, (PIA) - - The city government
oif Zamboanga headed by Mayor Celso
Lobregat and House Deputy Speaker Beng Climaco met with Presidential Adviser on
the Peace Process Secretary Ding Deles and Government Peace Panel chairman
Marvic Leonen Thursday night to clarify issues concerning the ongoing peace
process.
The meeting, which was a prelude to today’s
multi-stakeholders meeting at the Garden Orchid Hotel, was also attended by
members of the City Council and other city officials and was held at the City
Hall conference.
Mayor Lobregat said the meeting will tackle issues
concerning the status of the ongoing peace talks between the government and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), what have been agreed on during the
series of exploratory talks, resource sharing and the question as to whether or
not Zamboanga City is included in the ‘sub-state’ that the MILF is demanding
and numerous other concerns.
The mayor has been asking the government peace panel
to come and consult with Zamboanguenos and other areas in the region before it
enters into an agreement with the MILF.
He stressed that Zamboanga City’s stand for
non-inclusion in the any entity, state or sub-state under the ARMM remains firm
and steadfast.
When informed that the government peace panel is
arriving in the city to meet with him, Cong. Climaco and other city officials,
Mayor Lobregat asked that another meeting be set to include other sectors in
the city to ensure that it is a genuine and an honest to goodness consultation.
The GRP-MILF peace panels during its 27th
round of exploratory talks inMalaysia recently signed the so called GPH-MILF
decision points on principles as of April 2012, a document which shall serve as
guide to the discussions on the substantive agenda of the negotiations.
The two parties are set to meet again this month. (JPA/SC/CIO/PIA9-ZBST)