• Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
• Mobile Nos. 0916-6406741 / 0918-9120137
• 06 August 2011

           Minority leader and Albay Representative Edcel C. Lagman urged President Benigno S. Aquino to forthwith personally bare to the Filipino people the highlights of his secret meeting with MILF Chieftain Al Haj Murad Ibrahim in Tokyo.

           The people are entitled to know in the spirit of transparency what happened during the furtive talks.

           The following questions must be answered:

          (1) What was the reason of the President in making his trip to Japan secret?

           (2)     What are the parameters for the impending peace negotiations?

           (3)     What are the bottom line demands of the MILF?

           (4)     Is the Philippines ready to offer certain concessions?

(5)     How would the rival MNLF be treated and/or accommodated in the peace talks?

(6)     What pieces of legislation are necessary to enhance the successful implementation of any peace accord?

(7)     How much is the budgetary requirement for the conduct of the negotiations and enforcement of any peaceful settlement?

(8)     How would the existing Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) fit into the negotiation and eventual agreement?

(9)     With the President’s meeting with Murad, what kind of special status did he confer to the Muslim rebel leader and his insurgency?