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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippine president to visit MILF stronghold |
| 2013-02-08 |
| Philippine President Benigno Aquino will make a historic visit to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF's) stronghold next week in an effort to move forward peace talks, his office said on Thursday. Aquino's trip on Monday to the outskirts of the 12,000-member MILF's main base in the country's south will be the first peace mission there by a president since the insurgency began. Aquino and MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim will meet as they witness the launch of a social welfare project for the residents of communities where the rebels exert an influence, Aquino spokesman Ricky Carandang said. He said, "It's not a formal meeting, but their presence will underscore the commitment and optimism that both sides have that a final resolution to the peace process will be achieved. The launch of the social programmes will show concrete benefits of peace." At the launch, health insurance cards will be distributed to residents, emergency jobs offered to adults and scholarships given to their children, the president's office said. Cabinet secretary Jose Almendras said next week's event would be held at an MILF-run school about half a kilometer from the main gate of the rebels' headquarters, Camp Darapanan. MILF spokesman Mike Pasigan welcomed the imminent launch of the social welfare project. In a statement, he said, "The program will further strengthen the collaboration between the government and the MILF as we build on the gains of the peace process." |
| Posted by:ryuge |