ARMM speaker meets with AFP top
brass on plight of MNLF integrees


ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) Speaker
Hatimil Hassan signs five bills creating four new towns
in Basilan and one in Sulu provinces. The signing is
witnessed by RLA members Rajam Akbar, left, and
Bonnie Abdulaziz Balamo. (PR)

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Speaker Hatimil Hassan met in Zamboanga City with top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to discuss the situation of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) integrees.

Hassan, also the concurrent MNLF chairman, conferred with AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga, Phililippine Army Chief Germogenes Esperon and Southern Command Chief Gabriel Habacon about the efforts to implement the military aspect of the Sept. 2, 1996 GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement.

He did not give further details about the meeting, which was held at the Conference Hall of the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EABB) on January11, 2006. He urged instead the National Directorate of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Party to help them develop the ARMM government.

The ARMM speaker also thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for allowing Professor Nur Misuari to attend prayers during the Eid’l Adha celebration in the Blue Mosque in Taguig City after the Makati Regional Trial Court gave the former MNLF chairman permission.

In another development, Speaker Hassan greeted the European Union ambassadors who visited Cotabato City on Monday for familiarization tour and to monitor projects funded by their government. Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines Herbert Jager spearheaded the nine other European envoys.

The European Union, according to Hassan, is also closely monitoring the implementation of the peace agreement between the government and the MNLF as well as the on going peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Press Release)