Palace hopes govt, MILF panels resolve remaining
issues in peace talks
Malacanang hopes that the government and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels could soon resolve the three
remaining annexes in the peace talks for the eventual signing of a peace
agreement with Muslim separatists.
The MILF, particularly its ground commanders,
reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the recent pace of the talks as both
sides miss the target date for the signing of a final peace pact.
But Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail
Valte said both sides have been spending longer time in threshing out the three
remaining annexes which negotiators considered delicate.
“Ang tatlo kasing annexes na natira, medyo
mabigat ang mga nilalalaman, and of course, it is in everybody’s interest na
upuan nang mabuti at suriin kung ano ang mga ilalaman ng mga annexes na ito,”
Valte said in a radio interview Saturday over government-run dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
“Again, we’re hoping to see a resolution to this
and we’re hoping for a way forward from the three annexes that are left.”
Asked about the government’s position on
wealth-sharing, Valte decline to answer saying she’s leaving some details of
the discussions to be announced the panels.
“Siguro mas mabuting hintayin natin ang magiging
final resolution bago tayo magbigay ng komento dito. But, rest assured that the
government panel is working with their counterpart on this,” she said.
The Philippine government and the MILF signed in
October 15 last year the Framework Agreement for Mindanao peace aimed at ending
decades-old separatist struggle of Muslims in the South.
Then government peace panel chairman Marvic
Leonen and his MILF counterpart Mohagher Iqbal signed the historic roadmap to
peace in a ceremony witnessed by President Benigno S. Aquino III, Malaysian
Prime Minister Najib Razak, Murad and members of the negotiating panels of both
sides.
The President said at the time, that he hopes
that signing would lead to positive changes while acknowledging that there are
many things that have to be done to fully reap the fruits of the Framework
Agreement.
Last year’s signing comes after 15 years of
negotiations between the government and the MILF, and 40 years of conflict in
Mindanao with a casualty figure of more than 150,000. PND (as)
Palace welcomes improving global peace rating
Malacanang welcomed the improvement of the
country’s global peace rating, although slightly, noting the administration has
been addressing the domestic peace and security concerns.
“When it comes to that, maganda naman na tumaas
ang ranking natin because we’ve been taking concrete steps to address
peace-related issues that have been confronting the administration,” Deputy
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday over
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Moving forward siyempre, hindi naman dahil
tumaas lang nang kaunti ang ranking ay ititigil na natin ang mga efforts. Of
course, these efforts and these actions will continue,” she added.
According to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2013
released this week by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Philippines
remains among the “least peaceful” countries in the world and the Asia Pacific,
improving only slightly in its global ranking.
The GPI said its recent ranking showed the
Philippines placing 129th among 162 countries surveyed, a six-notch improvement
over its ranking of 133 in 2012 and 135 a year before that.
The GPI said it saw improved prospects for peace
between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
following the signing of a framework deal last year for a potential peace
agreement.
Despite this development however, the
Philippines remained “among the least peaceful countries in Asia Pacific,”
along with Thailand and Myanmar, that face domestic civil conflict.
Listed as the least peaceful countries are
Afghanistan (162), Somalia (161), Syria (160), Iraq (159), Sudan (158),
Pakistan (157), Democratic Republic of Congo (156), Russia (155), North Korea
(154) and Central African Republic (153).
Iceland was the most peaceful country based on
GPI’s ranking. This is largely because of Iceland’s political stability, low
homicide rate and small prison population.
The other top peaceful countries include
Denmark, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Finland, Canada, Sweden and
Belgium. PND (as)
Govt still targets zero-casualty against
disasters
The government still adheres to its
zero-casualty policy as the typhoons start to enter the country, a Palace official
said on Saturday.
“The target remains the same, ‘yung zero
casualty natin, at sana po wala namang matinding bagyo na pumasok ngunit lahat
naman tayo ay naghahanda para sa onset of the rainy season,” Deputy
presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
Valte said the President has instructed
government agencies to prioritize the welfare of the most vulnerable during
times of calamities.
"Ang DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and
Development], ang NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council],
ang DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] at ang mga kaakibat
na agencies, lahat naman nag-a-anticipate na dahil papasok na ang typhoon
season,” Valte said.
These agencies have been working together for
pro-active measures or protocol that will be followed whenever a typhoon enters
the Philippine area of responsibility, she added.
Meanwhile, with regards to the sea mishap
involving a roll-on, roll-off vessel in Masbate, Valte said the immediate
concern of the President is the ongoing rescue operations for the remaining
passengers lost at sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) augmented its
search and rescue personnel to find the passengers that have to be accounted
for.
“I understand that the AFP also sent its own
search and rescue units to help. Ngayong umaga, I was updated by the PCG at
sinabi nila na itinutuloy nila ang search and rescue with the help of the AFP
and Bantay-dagat,” she said. PND (as)
