Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammad Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak embarks on an official visit to the Philippines to witness the historic signing of the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro together with President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañan Palace on 15 October 2012.

The forging of the Framework Agreement was achieved during the 32nd round of Exploratory Talks between the Negotiating Panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) led by Marvic Leonen and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) led by Mohagher Iqbal from 2-7 October 2012 in Kuala Lumpur under the facilitation of the Government of Malaysia.

The Framework Agreement paves the way for a final, just and enduring peace in Mindanao. It will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a more empowered and more equitable system called the Bangsamoro, and involves the MILF abandoning the goal of establishing a separate state, and committing to eventually render its armed forces “beyond use.”

President Aquino will welcome the Malaysian Prime Minister in Malacañan Palace and the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting before the signing ceremony takes place.