The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is considering including a woman with its peace delegation for its upcoming exploratory talks with the government in Kuala Lumpur. Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, said the decision is "virtually sealed" after the their central committee had agreed to the plan.Mantawil cautioned that some requirements under Muslim traditions for a woman to travel with men have to be arranged. He said the woman "must have the closest of kin with her" to obtain clearance to travel with the men.
Mantawil said, "The MILF has considered seriously sending one woman with its peace delegation to the forthcoming 23rd GPH (government of the Philippines)-MILF Exploratory Talks in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur."
Two women are being considered to join the MILF’s negotiating team – Tausog human rights lawyer, Raisa Jajurie and Cabaybay Abubakar, an ethnic Maguindanaon and the president of the Shariff Kabunsuan College.
Mantawil said the upcoming negotiations are "very crucial" in light of concerns that the government and the MILF might not forge a peace deal before 2013 ends.
Secretary Teresita Deles, a presidential adviser on the peace process, said the talks with the MILF were due to begin Monday.
She said, "The talks mark the resumption of formal, full panel negotiations between the two parties. While taking care to avoid preempting the talks by commenting on expectations, I cannot but take a positive view of the fact that formal exploratory talks are pushing ahead following very serious challenges to the peace process in recent months."