MILF welcomes ARMM polls postponement

COTABATO, Philippines - The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) says the decision to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was “predictable and expected".

Both the Senate and House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 4146 postponing the mid-term polls and synchronizing the ARMM elections with the 2013 national polls.

MILF chair for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said the Aquino administration is on the right track with its decision to call for the postponement of the polls.

"Nasa tamang hakbang ang pangulong Aquino ngayon," Jaafar said.

Jaafar said the MILF is confident that Aquino is determined to achieve lasting peace through the ongoing GPH-MILF peace talks.

Jaafar also belied claims that most people in Mindanao want to hold elections now.

Meantime, the MILF leadership is reviewing the provisions of the proposed comprehensive compact draft.

Jaafar said they are looking into provisions where counter proposals from the government panel is possible.

"Titingnan natin aling bahagi ang posibleng may counter proposal ang government para malaman paano ito depensahan," Jaafar said.

The third round of peace negotiation is set on June 27-28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where the government peace panel is expected to give their counter proposal on the comprehensive compact draft submitted by the MILF peace panel last April.