PHNO-HL: NOY FELT 'WEDDING-DAY-JITTERS' DURING SIGNING OF MUSLIM PEACE DEAL

NOY FELT 'WEDDING-DAY-JITTERS' DURING SIGNING OF MUSLIM PEACE
DEAL


[PHOTO & CAPTION COURTESY OF RAPPLER.COM -PEACE
BROKER: President Aquino meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in
Malacañang before the signing of the Framework Agreement between the government
and the MILF. Photo courtesy of Malacañang photo
bureau.]
MANILA, OCTOBER 29, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Aurea Calica- President Aquino admitted the historic signing
of the framework agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) gave
him "wedding day jitters," as described by the Cabinet.
"It's like you have agreed already but the day is here," Aquino told
reporters while on a state visit to Australia.
He said the actual preparations for the signing alone took a week, aside from
the weeks of putting things in place before the actual signing on Oct. 15.
"Of course you have to prepare and ask yourself if everything is complete,"
Aquino said.
During his visits to New Zealand and Australia, the framework agreement with
the MILF was a "big development" for officials, according to Presidential
Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky
Carandang.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Australian Prime Minister Julia
Gillard, along with their officials, congratulated Aquino for the framework
agreement.

[PHOTO -MAORI WELCOME President Aquino picks up the "rakau
tapu," or dart, during the arrival honors on the lawn of Government House in
Wellington on Tuesday. The President is starting a state visit to New Zealand on
the invitation of Prime Minister John Key. MALACAÑANG PHOTO
BUREAU]
During the business meetings, the issue was often mentioned.
Aquino vowed to continue working for inclusive growth, especially in Mindanao
and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
"The Philippine economy has been turned around, and it is continuing to gain
speed. And I am here today to invite you all to come along, and to be part of
the Philippine story," Aquino said during a forum with Australian and Filipino
businessmen in Sydney.
The President also explained the framework peace agreement with the MILF
would basically set the parameters on how to actualize autonomy for them and
promote growth for all, including Mindanao.
He said MILF chief Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told him they would need to
demonstrate to the rebel fighters that the framework agreement was relevant to
them.
Aquino said the government had allocated more than P20 billion to improve
infrastructure and basic services such as health and education in the ARMM so
they would see the government's seriousness to improve their lives.
He said Malacañang would no longer just use the ARMM for command votes and
cheating during elections.
"We elect half of the senators every three years – the 10th, 11th, and 12th
positions may very well be determined by the number of votes they got in the
ARMM. So given the command votes, the regional governor would practically
exercise the rights of a feudal warrior in medieval times," Aquino said.
The President said the organic law for the Bangsamoro political entity should
be ready by the end of 2015 and the whole process of establishing the modified
ARMM would be done by 2016.
"Mindanao has always been for us the Land of Promise... There is a proposal,
for instance, to connect Luzon to Mindanao using a nautical highway which is a
series of roll-on, roll-off ports and new highways that will cut down travel
time from the present three days to a mere 15 hours," Aquino said.


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE


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