(Full transcript of the conversation between President Benigno S. Aquino 3rd and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Ebrahim Murad Al Haj in Tokyo, Japan.)

PNoy: Greetings of Peace, Mr. Chairman.

Murad: Assalamu Alaikum, Your Excellency.

PNoy: Thank you for accepting my invitation to this meeting. I know I will be criticized for meeting with a rebel leader like you but I believe I should sit down with you to reassure you that as your President, I really would like to find a way to resolve the Mindanao problem, a solution that will be acceptable to all.

Murad: The pleasure is mine, Your Excellency. I deeply admire you for doing what your mother, President Cory, did when she decided to meet Brother Nur Misuari which led to the signing of the peace deal between the MNLF and the government.

PNoy: Thank you. I really have to go straight to the point in this conversation, Mr. Chairman, and I hope you understand that I am sincere in my intention to end the MILF problem. What is it that you really want? What will it take to end your rebellion?

Murad: Well, our position is very clear, Your Excellency. The MILF believes that the peace agreement between the GRP and the MNLF has not really contributed to changing the lives of the Moro People. We really would like to have our own State, even just a Sub-state which will share some sovereign powers with the Philippine Government. Your government can retain national defense, foreign affairs, the peso will still be our currency, and the postal service.

PNoy: I am listening. Please go ahead.

Murad: Give us the area that we have identified in the MOA AD and we will organize our own government to be called the Bangsamoro State Authority. I will be the Chief Minister but I will be symbolically elected by an assembly composed of representatives of the areas to be included in the Bangsamoro State. Your government can retain national defense, foreign affairs, the peso will still be the currency, and the postal service. Just reduce the number of army soldiers in our area.

We can handle the regional security. Also, we will have the power to review all land ownership documents including permits for the exploitation of our natural resources.

PNoy: That’s a complicated set up but please go ahead. I am listening.

Murad: Aside from the territory and the Bangsamoro State Authority, we would like to elect a Senator who will represent us in the Philippine Senate, a jurist who will be appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, two Justices in the Court of Appeals, cabinet portfolios and direc-torships in several bureaus and government corporations.

PNoy: And in exchange for all of these concessions, what will the MILF assure the Philippine government and the Filipino people?

Murad: We will drop our bid for secession and remain part of the Philippines but with a different national identity. We will be called Bangsamoro. There will be peace in Mindanao.

PNoy: What about Nur Misuari? He says you are a shell of a rebel organization. And Umbra Kato? He has already declared that he wants no part of the deal and he has organized a new group, BIFF. How can you assure us peace when you could not even see eye to eye with Nur Misuari and you have a problem with Umbra Kato?

Murad: Please do not give so much importance to Brother Nur, Your Excellency. He is old and he is insignificant. As for Kato, I will task our local commanders to handle him. Anyway he only has about 300 armed followers.

PNoy: I have to level off with you, Mr. Chairman. I really would like to be honest with you. The Sub-State that you are asking for would be a very difficult set up to achieve. You have to understand that I have declared several times already that I do not consider amending the Constitution as a priority of my presidency. And the Sub-state and your other demands cannot be granted unless the Philippine Constitution is amended. Besides, I cannot even commit to you that the Constitution would be amended to accommodate your proposal. Anything that requires legislation, I cannot commit to you. I suggest you just be contented with the Autonomous Region. I could do something to accommodate you there. That’s the best that I can offer and you better make up your mind because we already have a development and reform agenda for the ARMM, with or without you. You should hitch with us now or else you will be rendered insignificant.

Murad: But Mr. President, if I cannot deliver the Sub-State to my constituency, I would lose face and the MILF will become an insignificant rebel organization. You have to understand the situation that I and the other members of the Central Committee are in.

PNoy: You face the risk of losing face but I face the risk of being impeached. You have to understand that there are some political figures in Mindanao who are keenly watching the development in the peace process, like former governor Manny Piñol who is with us now in this room.

Murad: What? How can you allow Piñol, that peace spoiler to be in this room with us, Mr. President?

PNoy: Well, he is jobless now and he asked that I allow him to personally observe and listen to our conversation. But if you are not comfortable with him, I can ask the PSG to escort Manny out of the room.

***

As the PSG officer held me tightly by the arm to throw me out of the room, I woke up from a very interesting dream.

Yes, the exchange of conversation between President Aquino and Murad was actually just in my dream and I could have dreamed of these ideas simply because this was how we expected the President to respond to the MILF’s demand for a Sub-State.

Yes, it was just a dream.

But you know what they say about dreams? Sometimes they do come true.