OPAPP Sec on Peace Process: Women are not in the sidelines

Should the peace pact come into completion, it will be the first time that a woman will sign that document.

This is the statement of the Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Teresita Deles during a visit to the meeting of Civil Society Organizations organized by the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) in Davao City, February 10-12.

Deles said women are no longer just in the sidelines, distributing pen and paper during the meeting between the negotiating panels of the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Deles is referring to the Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, head of the Government peace panel.

She said it has been a long time that the peace talks have been waited for completion. And women are not given enough roles in the peace negotiations.

As of now the Bangsamoro Transition Commission is working on the Bangsamoro Basic Law’s approval that will measure the success or conclusion of the peace negotiations and implementation of the agreements forged by the GPH and MILF panels.

In a report, she said OPAPP fully supports the work of the BTC. The BTC led by Chairman Iqbal is composed of fifteen (15) commissioners, all appointed by President Aquino, with 8 members coming from the MILF and 7 members designated by the government. It is mandated to hold consultations with various sectors and stakeholders in Mindanao to ensure an inclusive, fair and transparent Bangsamoro Basic Law.

During the gathering of CSOs, Deles said she is asking them to fully support the peace process despite the discouragement that they will feel especially from the so-called spoilers of the peace process. (John Frances C. Fuentes/@dcherald)