MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has rejected a proposal from the government for "genuine" autonomy, but the latter is still confident that peace talks will continue in search for a common ground.

In a video conference with Malacañang reporters, GPH chief negotiator Marvic Leonen said the government’s proposal for a solution to the Bangsamoro problem was “studied and discussed” by the MILF side, but that “they [MILF panel] will advise the central committee to reject [it].”

The proposal does not include a so-called "sub-state" for the Moros, but provides for the creation of a Bangsamoro Commission “established on the inclusivity [among] the government, MILF and stakeholders.”

The commission is seen to supervise the implementation of a peace accord, including the lobbying of an Organic Act “that will strengthen their autonomy.”

Leonen said they already expected that this would happen.

“Obviously, in any negotiation, there is possibility that a party will take hard positions…[The] MILF is saying they want another framework but the government says this is the most practical," he said.

Leonen said the government proposal was designed to allow it to have an elbow room in negotiating with the secessionist group.

3-for-1 proposal

The exploratory talks ended ahead of schedule, due to the “efficiency” of both sides, Leonen said. The talks were supposed to end on Wednesday, August 24.

During the talks, the government submitted its 20-page proposal that it called “3 for 1.” He explained this meant “three important components for one solution to the Bangsamoro problem.”

The 3 components are for: massive social services and economic development, political settlement, and cultural historical acknowledgement.

The Bangsamoro Commission is indicated in the 2nd component.

On the creation of an Organic Act to strengthen the autonomy of the Bangsamoro, Leonen said, “Congress will eventually make the decision. All the President will do is to facilitate the process. What we’re providing is a formula.”

He said this particular provision allows all parties to sit down and discuss what they want in an autonomous government “which is in small letters, not capital letters.”

“We’re not committing an Organic Act, but the process,” he stressed. He said the term “autonomy” can mean a lot of things.

He said, however, that this is not the same as contained in the unconstitutional Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) pushed by the previous administration.

Had it been decided as constitutional by the Supreme Court, the MOA-AD will supposedly include around 712 provinces from the mineral-rich islands of Palawan in Luzon, South Cotabato, Zamboanga City, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

The expanded ARMM will then pave the way for a Bangsamoro homeland that will be governed by the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE), in which the MILF would have full fiscal, political and religious authority.

“All these have loaded meanings,” Leonen stressed.

Umbra Kato

Leonen explained the proposal was created with the end view of partnering with the MILF in providing social services, economic development, and cultural uplifting of the Bangsamoro.

Meanwhile, Leonen said “the government is considering [Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato] not with the MILF anymore. The MILF also shares the same view, he noted.

“[As such], he is not covered by the ceasefire arrangements. The usual legal mechanisms will be placed in his stead,” he said.

He did not answer when asked if there will be police or military operations against Umbra Kato, who earlier created a splinter rebel unit.

Leonen also claimed that some of Umbra Kato’s subcommanders have already surrendered to the MILF. “He’s losing some of his men.”

Umbra Kato is believed by some as a major hindrance in the peace process.

