DAVAO CITY, Mindanao, Philippines: Malaysia, the facilitator of the peace talks and head of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) that oversees the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, hopes the sixth year monitoring process involving the Malaysian Armed Forces would be the last.
Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the IMT had performed its duties diligently and managed to resolve a number of disputes and misunderstandings between the Philippines government an Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“The time has come for the Malaysia led IMT to issue a signal to the Philippines government and MILF…enough, if they continue to refuse to sign the peace agreement that is pending since 2008, Malaysia will not be able to assist further because we (Malaysian government) to do not want to see the issue prolonged without any settlement,” he told reporters here after ending his two-official visit to Mindanao since April 9
here.
Malaysia is now heading the IMT in Mindanao and the IMT-Mindanao chief is Mej Gen Datuk Mahadi Yusof from the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Also present was Malaysia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad.
Dr Abdul Latiff said everything would now depend on the Philippines government led by President Benigno S C Aquino III to decide whether to accept proposals and demands put forward by MILF.
The developments of the peace process and situation in Mindanao would be presented to the Cabinet soon while the overall situation looks very positive because the Philippines government has been having frequent meetings with MILF, aimed at sealing the peace settlement.
He said based on information gathered by IMT and information from Mej Gen Datuk Baharom Hamzah who had headed the IMT-Mindanao for a year in 2010, the involvement of a ‘third force’ may be among reasons for the delay in the peace process, as the ‘third force’ used weapons and armed combat to ‘disturb’ peace and harmony among the people.
As such, Dr Abdul Latiff had requested the Philippines government and MILF to rid the involvement of the ‘third force’ which can continue to become an obstacle to the peace process.
However, the identity of the ‘third force’ was not revealed for safety reasons.
“The Philippines government and MILF must join forces to eliminate the existence of the ‘third force’ in Mindanao to help resolve the dispute and this process cannot be delayed,” said Baharom. — Bernama