Malacañang Palace’s Rizal Hall will be the historic site of the signing today of the “Framework Agreement” between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that contains what the final comprehensive agreement will have in greater detail.

Abigail Valte, Palace deputy presidential spokesman, said the “Framework Agreement” will be signed 1:30 p.m. by the government’s chief negotiator Dean Marvic Leonen and his MILF counterpart Mohagher Iqbal.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who arrives in Manila today (Sunday), will be the principal witnesses.

Members of the diplomatic corps are also expected to witness this milestone event in the history of Mindanao.

Valte said some 100 senior members of the MILF are expected in Malacañang also to witness the signing ceremony.

Led by Governo Mujib Hataman, a contingent of officials of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao—which will be replaced by the autonomous Bangsamoro homeland when the GPH-MILF final peace agreement becomes operational— are also attending the signing ceremony.

Immediately after the signing, Valte said, chief peace negotiator Marvic Leonen and MILF negotiator Mohaguer Iqbal will hold a joint press briefing at Malacañang New Executive Building.

She also said that President Aquino and Prime Minister Razak will hold a bilateral meeting at 10 a.m on Monday. A

After the signing ceremony in Malacañang, the Malaysian Prime Minister will address the Philippine-Malaysia Business Council.

A peace caravan from Mindanao, composed of civil society organization activist, is expected to arrive in Manila from Mindanao in the afternoon today, Valte said.

“The peace caravan, called Lakbay Kalinaw, is composed of 50 vehicles filled with peace advocates,” she said.

 According to Valte participants in the caravan converged in Cotabato and Marawi City proceeding to Surigao.

“They will travel from Mindanao crossing Samar and Leyte and arrive in Manila Sunday afternoon,” she said, adding, “The group will hold a vigil in Mendiola in Manila.”

The Palace official said that the peace advocates joining the caravan helped monitor the peace process while both the government and MILF were holding dialogues in Malaysia.

She added that besides monitoring the ceasefire agreement, the civil society organizations assisted the government in providing shelter to families who were displaced by the conflict.

“They are the ones who are consistently encouraging both parties to continue with the peace dialogue,” Valte said.

Reacting to the call of the local government officials of Zamboanga City to delay the signing of the peace agreement to clarify some issues, Valte said, the government peace panel will explain the provisions of the new peace pact to them.

 “Kung merong mga probisyon na hindi malinaw ay bukas ang ating peace panel...sa pagpapatuloy ng paglilinaw ng mga ito,” Valte said.

The government and the MILF agreed on a Framework Agreement that is hoped to put an end to 40 years of Muslim rebellion in the south.

After the agreement is signed President Aquino is expected to issue an order creating a Transition Commission that will work on the implementation of the peace deal.