ISABELA CITY, Basilan May 28 (PIA) – Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles expressed optimism that the
Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) peace panels will build on what has already been achieved during the
last round of negotiations.
In a press statement, government peace
adviser Deles announced that the GPH and MILF panels will meet today in Kuala
Lumpur for the 28th formal exploratory talks.
"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,” she said in a
statement over the weekend.
Last month, both parties signed the Decision
Points on Principles which contains 10 mutually identified standpoints that
will serve as the framework for discussions towards crafting the final peace
agreement.
“The GPH panel goes to KL having undergone
intensive preparations for the substantive agenda which are on the table. These
are difficult issues which may test the will and patience of the two parties,”
the peace adviser added.
In preparation for the talks this month, the
GPH panel conducted consultations with various stakeholders, which included
senators, congressmen, local chief executives in Mindanao, business leaders and
Ulama, to know their sentiments and gather their inputs on the GPH-MILF peace
process.