Philippines, Muslim rebels sign landmark peace pact
Muslim rebels waging a decades-long separatist insurgency in the southern Philippines signed a pact with the government on Monday to end the conflict by 2016.
Muslim rebels waging a four-decade insurgency in the Philippines signed a historic pact with the government on Monday to end the conflict, but both sides warned the road to peace had only just begun.
President Benigno Aquino and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Murad Ebrahim witnessed the signing of the accord, which aims for a final peace pact by 2016, in a landmark ceremony at the presidential palace in Manila.
“I come in peace and to forge a partnership of peace on the basis of the framework agreement between the MILF and the Philippine government,” Ebrahim said in a speech at the palace just ahead of the signing.
“We extend the hand of friendship and partnership to the president and Filipino people”.
President Benigno Aquino, who has driven the process since assuming office in 2010, also hailed the agreement as a chance to “finally achieve genuine, lasting peace”.
Ebrahim became the first MILF chief to visit the presidential palace, signifying the optimism from both sides about finally ending a conflict that has claimed 150,000 lives and the priority Aquino has put on achieving peace.