Philippine president, rebel leader meet on peace process

Manila, June 26 (IANS) Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Muslim rebel leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim met for a second time in Japan and discussed a peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), an official said Thursday.

Aquino, on a one-day trip to Japan, met the rebel leader Wednesday on the sidelines of a peace conference in Hiroshima where Aquino and Murad were guests, Xinhua reported citing the official.

"The president and MILF chairman Murad had a one-on-one meeting with no cabinet members present," the official said.

"As in their previous meetings, it is reasonable to infer that they discussed the progress of the peace process and how this may be brought to full fruition in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)," the official added.

The CAB, signed March 27 by the Philippine government and the MILF, the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, aims to establish a Bangsamoro government -- with MILF and the government as partners -- by 2016, when Aquino is required by the Constitution to stand down.

Aquino and Murad had their first secret meeting in Japan in August 2011.