When we discovered that Atty Naguib Sinarimbo heads a project called Fast Track, we were impressed with the concern of local and foreign countries to shorten the lengthy process in achieving a peace deal in the dialogue between the MILF and the Philippine Government. A lot of support has been given to this peace dialogue, and now, many rejoice that the fourth Annex of the Framework Agreement for the Bangsamoro – the Annex on Normalization - has finally been approved, signalling the end of that phase of the Peace Process. The work of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission will now formally start. They have from now until 2016 to formulate the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which hopefully will be done with thorough consultations among the populace, especially the local Christian and Lumad communities.

It is therefore disheartening that there are still spoilers of the peace process, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for one. It is difficult to understand why after all these years, when majority of the Muslim Filipinos have agreed to pursue their quest for self-determination within the confines of the Philippine Constitution, a small group still are persistent in their cry for independence. This is one area that the MILF will have to look into, not to mention placating the hurt experienced by the Moro National Liberation Front with whom the government first signed a “not so successfully implemented peace agreement”. Bringing the MNLF into the mainstream of the peace process, especially into the BTC, will be a good move since the Sema Faction of the MNLF has already positive attitudes toward the Framework Agreement for the Bangsamoro.

A lot of foreign governments rejoiced with the completion of the Framework Agreement, especially those who helped during the dialogue as third party negotiators and observers. Malaysia as the primary negotiator, and the members of the International Contact Group expressed their congratulations to both the GPH and MILF. Having accompanied the two panels in the highs and lows of the peace negotiation gave them the experience of how to deal with conflicts in other countries. But this experience has been successful because the Mindanao conflict has been largely settled through dialogues, not arms. The monitoring teams and the ceasefire committees have been prompt and sincere in settling armed conflicts, preventing its escalation into a bigger one where more people would have been affected. Our congratulations to the IMT, its local counterparts, and the Ceasefire Committee for a job well done. We also wish to give recognition to the work of the MINHRAC, and the other NGOs who assisted and helped uphold the rights of the civilians and the IDPs caught in the crossfire when the armed conflict was still at its peak.

Despite all these rejoicing, we do hope that all those involved in the peace process maintain their positive outlook. A lot of work has still to be done by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission. With the signing of the Annex on Normalization, expect more activities on the field from the military, the BIFF, and the other factions of the MNLF. Hopefully, the MILF will be there to help tone down any armed conflict. There is still a need for vigilance on the part of civilians in expressing their views in the formulation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. In all these, we need to pray to God for enlightenment and guidance so that the years ahead will be kind to us and the future generations.

Eva Kimpo-Tan is the editor-in-chief of The Mindanao Cross, the oldest Catholic weekly in the southern Philippines.