(15 Oct 2012)
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1. Mid of MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim being greeted by Teresita Deles, presidential adviser for the peace process
2. Zoom in on Al Haj Murad Ebrahim
3. Mid of Deles and Haj Murad Ebrahim, shot pans to MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and government negotiator Marvic Leonen
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4. Mid of Philippine president Benigno Aquino III shaking hands with Al Haj Murad Ebrahim
5. Various of Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and Aquino exchanging gifts
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6. Various of Aquino greeting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak
7. Various of Aquino and Razak walking towards platform
8. Various of Razak and Aquino inspecting military honour guard
9. Cutaway of photographer
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10. Various of meeting between Razak and Aquino
STORYLINE:
Worn down by decades of fighting and failed peace agreements, Muslim rebel leaders were euphoric but cautious on Monday before they sign a preliminary peace pact with the Philippine government aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
The agreement is the first major step toward a final settlement that grants minority Muslims in the southern Philippines broad autonomy in exchange for ending the violence that has killed tens of thousands of people and crippled development.
A product of 15 years of negotiations facilitated by neighbouring Malaysia, which wants stability on its doorstep, the agreement sets in motion a roadmap to a final document that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III's government plan to clinch before his six-year terms ends in 2016.
The signing will be witnessed by Aquino, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and rebel chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, who set foot for the first time in Manila's Malacanang presidential palace, where officials prepared a red-carpet welcome.
Sonny Davao, deputy chief of the rebel army, said guerrilla commanders were ready to shift from armed struggle to helping build a new Muslim-administered region.
Murad has seldom appeared in public in past years.
Aquino met Murad secretly in Tokyo for the first time last year to underscore their commitment to settle the rebellion.
About 300 Muslims from Manila and southern provinces held a noisy rally outside the palace on Sunday in support of the preliminary accord.
The agreement is to be signed by government negotiator Marvic Leonen and his rebel counterpart, Mohagher Iqbal.
It outlines general agreements on major issues, including the extent of power, revenues and territory of a new Muslim autonomous region to be called Bangsamoro.
It calls for the establishment of a 15-member Transition Commission to draft a law creating the new Muslim-administered region.
Rebel forces will be deactivated gradually "beyond use," the agreement says, without specifying a timetable.
The deal is the most significant progress in years of tough bargaining with the 11-thousand strong Moro group to end an uprising that has left more than 120 thousand people dead and displaced about two (m) million others.


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