The Philippine government’s chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Professor Miriam Coronel, has admitted that the on-going negotiations with the rebel group have been stalled with disagreements on the “Wealth Sharing Provision” in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Interviewed this morning by Radio Station DXND, Coronel said that the two panels are ironing out differences in their position on how much the MILF, and later the Bangsamoro Government, would get as its share of the revenues and natural wealth in the Bangsamoro Territory.
Coronel, while sounding optimistic that the differences will be resolved soon, said that the Wealth Sharing Provision is an important issue because of the prospects of Oil and Mineral find within the area.
The MILF reportedly is demanding a 75% share while the national government stands pat on a 50-50% sharing.
During the same interview, Coronel also confirmed the general belief of people in Central Mindanao that even after the signing of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in 2015 which will include the identification of areas to be included in the expanded territory, there will be succeeding plebiscites to be conducted for further expansion.
The Wealth Sharing Provision is only one of the critical issues which will have to be resolved prior to the conduct of the plebiscite in 2015.
Other contentious issues include the formation of the Bangsamoro Police which will be distinct from the Philippine National Police, the withdrawal of the Armed Forces from the Bangsamoro Territory and the settlement of land conflicts.
President Benigno S. Aquino has expressed his optimism that the final peace agreement with the MILF will be signed before the end of his term.
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