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Arroyo appoints GRP spokeswoman as head of OPAPP


The spokesperson of the government peace panel dealing with the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) has been appointed as head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Annabelle Abaya replaces Avelino Razon Jr., who resigned earlier this month to concentrate on his mayoralty bid in Manila for next year's elections. Abaya’s appointment came 10 days after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo designated former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Nabil Tan as officer-in-charge of the body. Tan has served as member of the government panel that negotiated the 1996 peace agreement with the Nur Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Abaya, the former spokesperson of President Fidel Ramos, holds a doctorate in conflict resolution from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She is also head of The Conflict Resolution Group Foundation, Inc. (The Core Group), which advocates mediation in resolving disputes. She is also conflict resolution consultant of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the Asia Foundation. Among the tasks of OPAPP are to hold peace talks between the government and the rebel groups NDF and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Abaya said she will “hold the fort" for the next eight months while the country is under a political fever. She said she will work on the resumption of the peace negotiations with the NDF and the MILF and on the review of the peace pact with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). “We have made progress so there is no rush... We are trying to build trust... This government wants to talk... but there are no promises. We will work on it and let us surprise you when there are developments. Peace is like fruit na hindi puwedeng pitasin nang bubot... Ayaw din namin ng kinalburo. The important thing is we are talking," she said. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told GMANews.TV that he does not personally know Abaya, but he expressed hopes that she would continue to implement programs for Mindanao that are meant to bolster confidence and support in the peace process. - GMANews.TV
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