MNLF says gov’t in a bind with peace framework, insists on past pacts

The Moro National Liberation Front congratulates its brothers in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for reaching a framework agreement with the Philippine government. The MILF brothers have sacrificed so much to attain their goal.

However, the government has placed itself in a bind.

The government has assumed that the stakeholders, Congress and the judiciary will be in sync in approving the agreement. This is quite very risky considering the multifaceted characters of the people and the fluid political and judicial structures. Worse, lawyer Marvic Leonen, chief government peace negotiator, never thought of the agreements—international agreements—the government has entered with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Maybe Leonen should wisely recall the pactum sunt servanda (agreements must be kept) doctrine.

The MNLF will continue its pursuit of self-determination and it is confident that soon the Bangsamoro, which includes the Muslims, Christians and the indigenous peoples, will be free.

—V. EMMANUEL C. FONTANILLA,

spokesman/legal counsel,

MNLF for Mindanao, vecfnew@yahoo.com