PRESIDENTIAL adviser for peace process Jesus Dureza said that more peace tables, especially sultanates in Mindanao, is set to be organized soon to supplement and support the ongoing peace talks.
Dureza, in his speech during a seminar workshop in writing the peace process, said that tables for conversations are set to be opened for the sultanates and also for non-Moro Islamic Liberation Front and non-MILF Bangsamoro elements.
Dureza reiterated his earlier statement that the peace panels, citing the Oslo talks between the government and communists, is one small table. The bigger table, he said, is the local citizens in the ground.
The Bangsamoro communities are as critical to peace process.
"Hindi lang ito Communist Party of the Philippines pati dito sa Bangsamoro," Dureza said.
Dureza said that they plan to organize the table to represent Sultanates.
"We are planning to organize the table for the Sultanates, kasi sabi nila 'pinag-usapan ninyo ang aming Bangsamoro pero yung sultanates ba't hindi napapakinggan', minsan may nagre-represent ng sultanates pero hindi talaga salpak doon sa hinaing nila," Dureza said.
Dureza also said that heads of the sultanates will be invited not the representatives.
"Kung hindi makaintindi, pwede sila magdala ng interpreters to assist them," Dureza said.
Same will also be applied to the non-Moro Islamic Liberation Front and non-MILF Bangsamoro constituents.
Dureza said that inclusivity is very important to craft a new law.
"That means if we would come up with a law to replace the Armm, we hope that it should come from the agreement in 1996, and it will also draw provisions from Comprehensive agreement on Bangsamaoro (CAB), provisions of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (Armm) law that could be included there and also pertinent provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (Ipra) law so that hopefully yung law na ipapasa ng Kongreso hindi isang grupo lang," Dureza said.
GPH Implementing Panel Chair Irene Santiago, in a press conference Friday last week at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Davao region, said the interest of these additional peace tables is for stakeholders to be heard and to be taken seriously.
"These will make sure public will participate in the way it can for peace, because the plebiscite cannot get out of the CAB, kung ano yung na-negotiate sa CAB yun ang enabling law and kung ano pa yung kulang sa 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF yun ang ilagay sa enabling law," Santiago said.
Santiago added that the peace table will be created for people to participate in making peace last, and by also ensuring the implementation of the law.
President Rodrigo Duterte just signed Monday the executive order for the creation of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that is tasked write enabling law, propose constitutional amendments and to conduct dialogues.
The 21 man commission is composed of 10 nominees from government and 11 nominees from the MILF.
Present during the signing were high ranking officials from concerned parties and also Secretary Dureza and Santiago.