The following is the statement of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis who is also the chair of the GRP peace panel negotiating with the MILF after their exchange of drafts in Kuala Lumpur:

1.       The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) just emerged from a long hiatus from the peace process and both sides are about to start discussions on the substantive issues of the negotiations.

2.       Yesterday (Jan. 27), the two sides exchanged their respective drafts.

3.       I wish to clarify that there is no agreement yet. Both sides are still in the early stages of discussing each other’s position papers.

4.       The GRP draft is compliant with the Constitution and pertinent laws. It is also guided by the Supreme Court decision on the aborted Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). It mostly identities executive ‘doables’, proposed legislative actions to strengthen regional autonomy, and openess to hear MILF proposals for constitutional change.

5. The GRP draft is clear that discussions that will concern legislative and other policy actions will still be proposals which would be submitted to Congress.
 
6.       There is no mention of any “Bangsa Moro” sub-state in our draft.