DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 January) – A team of Constitutional experts, some of whom helped frame the 1987 Constitution is working on “fast mode” to allow for a “federal framework” that would “clear the way” for the government to “really respond to the Bangsamoro aspirations,” Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, told reporters Saturday night.
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 January) – The review of the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) is over, the reports of the five joint working groups have been submitted but there will be no tripartite meeting on January 14 as originally scheduled.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (13 January) — While the peace negotiation between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front remains suspended and President Macapagal-Arroyo is proposing to have the Constitution amended to specifically provide for The creation of a Bangsamoro Federal State, hawks are hovering. They alarm the doves.
Last January 5, the Bangsamoro Solidarity Alliance of Zamboanga City hosted a Peace Advocacy Forum; on the 8th, more than 50,000 Muslims staged a peace rally in Cotabato City; and on the 10th, more than 30,000 Moros held an indignation rally in Marawi City (Luwaran, January 8, 9,10).The hawks might interpret these as belligerency and beat the war drums.
