Manila, MILF agree to continue peace negotiations (2)

They likewise agreed to build on prior consensus points achieved and to consider new modalities to end the armed hostilities with responsibility to protect and for human security.

Both sides also noted to resolve the legitimate grievances and claims for the people of Moro ancestry and origin.

The government and the MILF skirted the issue of reviving the aborted expanded Muslim homeland agreement that was outlawed by the Supreme Court in 2008, citing constitutional violations.

But under the declaration, the two parties have agreed to " respect the existing property and community rights taking into account in particular the rights of indigenous people" in accordance with the United Nations agreements.

"As a general principle indigenous peoples who originally inhabit particular constituent units shall receive protection and enjoy equal rights similar to those enjoyed by the Moros taking into account in additional to economic and geographic criteria, their individual and communal property rights, cultural integrity, customary beliefs, historical and community traditions," the declaration said.

The government the MILF also agreed to incorporate in the comprehensive final peace agreement, the signed documents on the cessation of hostilities and security arrangements guidelines and development initiatives and rehabilitation guidelines.


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