MILF rejects autonomy offer; Leonen, Deles see opening
AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News

Malacañang revealed Tuesday that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) initially rejected the autonomy framework proposed to them to get the exploratory talks started, but chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen said the current divide allows for ample room for agreement on issues as the talks progress.

Leonen cautioned against quick judgment on government’s sincerity based on comparisons between its autonomy offer and the overtly declared sub-state aspirations of the MILF.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said their chairman, Al Haj Murad explained their sub-state proposal when they met in Tokyo last August 4.

“Basically, the sub-state is still under the Philippines and it has layers of power and authority reserved for the central government, which are foreign relations, national defense, currency and postal services and there is residual power for the sub-state,” Iqbal said a few days after the Tokyo meeting.

Read full article @ www.gmanews.tv

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