MARAWI CITY – Sultan Buzár of Masiu Topaan Disomimba, chairman of the Sixteen Royal Houses of Lanao and concurrently chairman of the Lanao Advisory Council by virtue of Executive Order 602, expressed optimism that a peace accord would be forged between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), despite the aborted signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) which was declared as “unconstitutional” by the Supreme Court.

Disomimba emphasized that with the new slogan – “just talk” – adopted by newly installed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Annabelle T. Abaya, the GRP is inviting the rebel group to return to the negotiating table and talk things over to erase any distrust that have developed off and on peace negotiations.

Quoting Abaya’s slogan, Disomimba said “just talk” is a commitment to the idea that there is only one way to attain peace and the resolution of conflict – and that is through talking or negotiating.

“It may be painful and difficult, but in the end, it is the only way forward,” Abaya said.

“Never has history proven that durable peace can be won through violence – of words or war. Talking is simply for the sake of chatter. It must be seen by both to be just or fair, honest, and sincere. But when people are hurt and angry, they are detached from these values, Disomimba, quoting Abaya’s statement.

Abaya stressed that “genuine talk then is a profound process of intent mutual listening and understanding, where people in conflict become reunited to their values and the good in them, and then take responsibility for their actions and decisions.”

According to Disomimba, the newly installed secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) promised to work hard for the revival of the stalled peace talks.