Friday, July 6, 2012

Deles, Leonen to grace MILF assembly in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, July 6 (PNA) -- Presidential peace adviser Secretary Teresita Deles and chief government negotiator Atty. Marvic Leonen will be joining the biggest Bangsamoro gathering in Mindanao beginning Saturday.
Ghadzali Jaafar, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vice chair for political affairs, said Deles and Leonen have confirmed their participation in the two-day gathering of Moro community leaders who will be consulted on the progress of the GPh-MILF peace process.
"Both peace advocates have confirmed their participation and we are very glad," Jaafar said.
MILF, the gathering organizer, said the Bangsamoro Leaders' Assembly to be held at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, is expecting more than 500,000 individuals from all over the country.
Major General Rey Ardo, chief of the 6th Infantry Division, said he will personally attend the assembly on two reasons.
"I will attend because I was invited and I would like to show that the military is supportive of the government's peace initiatives, the gathering being part of the peace process," Ardo told reporters.
Soldiers were deployed around the vicinity of Camp Darapanan, the MILF stronghold, to secure participants coming in to the venue from as far as Metro Manila, Baguio, Visayas and Mindanao.
Also invited are officials and diplomats of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari.
On the second day of the assembly, a close-door plenary will be held while MILF chair Ebrahim Mohammad Al Haj will hold a news conference.
About 100 local, national and foreign journalists have signified their intention to attend, Jaafar said.
Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, said non-Muslims were also invited and many have confirmed their attendance.
After the opening program, Deles and Leonen will hold a news conference Saturday at the 6th ID headquarters here before proceeding to Manila. (PNA)

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