MILF rebels praise PNoy for Tokyo meeting

MANILA, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was all praises for President Benigno Aquino III on Friday after he held a secret meeting with the rebel group's chairman, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, at the Ana Crown Hotel in Narita, Japan on Thursday night.

The MILF, in a statement posted online, described the meeting as a "historic engagement."

The secessionist group also said that Aquino's "grand gesture" in inviting Murad for a one-on-one meeting was a "bold step."

"It is viewed as a great leap forward for both leaders, indicating a determined as well as decisive move for President Aquino and MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad to put closure to the conflict in Mindanao," it added.

The MILF said the meeting was the result of an initiative by Aquino, who invited Murad for a personal meeting initially proposed to be held anywhere in the Philippines.

Aquino relayed the invitation last June 2011 and was coursed through government peace panel chair Marvic Leonen, who relayed it to the Malaysian facilitator, Tengku Dato' Ab'Ja'afar Tengku Mohammed.

"Through back channel mode, it was relayed to the MILF Peace Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal which, for security reasons, was all conducted in utmost confidential manner," the MILF revealed.

The MILF's Central Committee initially wanted the meeting to be hosted by any member of International Contact Group (ICG) -- Turkey, Japan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

It added that after a series of consultations, Japan was finally agreed as the preferred host of the historic meeting. 

The Japanese government, in a press statement, confirmed that it supported the one-on-one talks.

It was not the first time that the MILF held a secret meeting with government officials.

In February 19, 2009, the MILF hosted a visit of US chargé d'affaires Leslie Bassett and other US embassy officials at the heavily-guarded Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, according to a US embassy cable revealed by Wikileaks.

Boost for peace talks

The MILF said the Japan meeting is "a tremendous boost to the peace negotiations and in rekindling public expectation to fast-track the peace settlement."

"The meeting between President Aquino and Chairman Murad was very cordial, frank, honest and intimate. (It) covered a wide range of issues and concerns related to the negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro Question," the rebel group said.

"Furthermore, there was consensus that all substantive and outstanding issues discussed by both leaders will be taken up by the peace panels for deliberation on the negotiating table," it added.

The MILF, however, said the meeting between the 2 leaders does not replace the current peace negotiations between the government and the rebel group that is being facilitated by Malaysia.

"On the part of the MILF chairman, his acceptance of the invitation illustrates a high level of statesmanship that necessitates resolution peacefully and politically at the negotiating table. By positively responding to President Aquino’s "grand gesture," Chairman Murad reciprocated it with political maturity and pragmatism of leadership and without compromising the fundamentals of Islamic movement that guide the MILF in pursuit of the Bangsamoro struggle for the right to self-determination," the rebel group said.