Palace, MILF brush aside threats by Misuari
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesman Mohagher Iqbal brushed aside the threats of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari to derail the recently signed peace agreement on strife-torn Mindanao.
Iqbal, negotiator for the MILF in the peace talks with the government, implied that Misuari is nothing but a has-been insofar as their affairs are concerned.
“Anyway, the day of reckoning is forthcoming. He filed his candidacy for ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) governor. If he has that number then he will win in the election. Let’s wait for that,” Iqbal told reporters in a briefing after the signing of the framework agreement Monday in Malacañang.
Misuari will be pitted against acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman in the May 2013 gubernatorial polls in the ARMM, which covers five provinces – Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Basilan and Lanao del Sur.
Chief government negotiator Marvic Leonen and Iqbal said they would still include the MNLF in the new entity that would replace the ARMM, where Misuari once served as governor.
Leonen also expressed doubts about Misuari’s purported following, particularly his claim that he has a million armed followers, on top of boasts that around 17,000 have defected from the MILF.
“It (one million-strong army) is, I think, eight or nine times the number of our Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which is in the process of modernization and costs a lot in terms of modernization,” he explained.
As for alleged defections, these can never be confirmed since MILF alone is only 11,000-strong.
“Therefore, they (Misuari’s group) added additional members to the MILF. But, insofar as the forces of Nur Misuari is concerned, let me just say perhaps it is not something that we are too bothered about,” Leonen said.
Iqbal, for his part, said: “I think there is a little bit of exaggeration here. Now he’s speaking about more than a million fighters. Even the government of the Republic of the Philippines does not have that number.”
As to grumblings of Misuari that they were not consulted, both Iqbal and Leonen clarified the MNLF was consulted and represented, but Misuari refused to cooperate with them by trying to delay the peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur.
“It has been always a postponement on the side of the MNLF that has caused the traffic in terms of that process. Also, there are new things that have been brought up by Nur Misuari,” Leonen pointed out.
“Things which were not in the final peace agreement and, therefore, I think that is some of the reasons why that has been the case,” Leonen recalled, when sought for reaction on Misuari’s complaint.
“In the case of the MNLF under Misuari, we have a formal deal with them through the Organization of the Islamic Conference (Cooperation). But the problem is that the OIC had scheduled several meetings that the MNLF under Misuari was not responding,” Iqbal said.
At the same time, Leonen – in a very subtle way – urged the media to be more discerning in addressing the issue of Mindanao, which has been mired in decades of poverty amid billions of pesos in allocated funds from the national government, and the MNLF itself.
“I urge media to understand the movement itself, the MNLF, and to look at new developments, the dialogues, the conversations, the people in the area,” Leonen told a news briefing after the signing of the framework agreement on Monday.
“I think people in the area are already wanting that their leaders listen to them. They have to listen to their people and to listen what it is that they want,” he stressed.
Iqbal, for his part, said they were confident of getting the support from the people of Mindanao despite some opposition.
“You know, the campaign slogan of the government and the MILF is the basic law. It’s not about personalities, it’s not about platform but it’s the basic law that we will campaign to our people, and if they see good things in the basic law, I think they will go for it. I am very optimistic that they will go for it,” Iqbal said, referring to the law that would govern the Bangsamoro political entity that would be approved by Congress.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?publicationSubCategoryId=63&articleId=860270
Tourists and residents of Manila travel out of town to the north on a short getaway look for the best place in Clark for rest and relaxation.
Companies, even organizers, wedding planners and families are looking for Resorts and beaches near Manila for events and retreats. Frequently visited destinations for vacation spots this summer in Philippines are found in Angeles City, Clark, Pampanga, which is very accessible from Manila, Subic and Cebu.
Frequent travelers and visitors staying in Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines look for restaurants, coffee shops, bars, pubs, hotels and resorts in Clark that offer free internet connection to guests. There are some highly recommended places in Clark that offer good WIFI internet services.
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion
You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions. Looking for a restaurant in Clark for a Business meeting? Or a place to eat with friends? Yats Restaurant offers exclusive dinner venue for groups, a good place to celebrate special occasions, it can be a party venue in town. Yats Restaurant is a recommended restaurant for private dinner in Philippines, a well-recognized restaurant that serves good food and good wines for dinner.
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar has its own special attraction for January 2010. Featured on the “special” menu are luxurious items that are guaranteed to make the dinners memorable. Saturdays in January are BYOB dinners which means that wine lovers can bring their own bottles to dine at Yats Restaurant without being charged corkage. BYO (Bring Your Own) is a special theme of Yats Restaurant which offers the biggest selection of fine and everyday wines anywhere in Asia.
http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
Yats International Leisure Philippines
For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
If this article about Clark is useful to you, please click here to contact us to tell us what more you wish to know about this article or Clark Philippines, which can be something about Clark investment, about Clark resorts, about Clark Swimming and Leisure or simply general news about Clark.
Please send questions to Editor@ClarkPhilippines.com. Leave your name, email address, contact numbers and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Information received will not be disclosed.
Random
Search
Contact Clark Philippines
Delectable Executive Meals
Philippine Peso Exchange Rate