A Valentine’s Day surprise for the MILF from the women in the GPH peace panel
Ferrer handed a canister each to Mastura and Malaysian facilitator Tengku while Lao gave to Iqbal and Lingga.
Three of the GPH women are Muslims: Lao, Wahab and Basman.
Lao acknowledged that Muslims do not celebrate Valentines’ Day but added, “we live in a pluralistic society.”
Ferrer said “we did it in the spirit of friendship between panels and the spirit of collegiality between us women and the men with whom we are working hard to find a solution.”
MILF chair Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews the act of giving was “very sweet” but added, “well, to us, the spirit of Valentine is incidental; the real thing is we are engaged in negotiation to search for real justice and peace in Mindanao.”
No, the MILF men did not give the GPH women roses. “Wala. Just ‘thank you very much!’” said Iqbal.
No photograph of the gift-giving was taken.
Tengku admitted that Tuesday’s negotiation was “very tough” because it focused on substantive issues but declined to give details.
“It was sincere but tough,” he told MindaNews on Wednesday morning. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)
