Philippines, Muslim Rebels Near Final Pact Amid Power-Share Deal
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The Philippines and Muslim rebels expect to sign a final accord next month, bringing President Benigno Aquino closer to his pledge of ending four decades of insurgency on resource-rich Mindanao island.
The central government will retain authority over monetary, defense, and foreign policies while the autonomous government will have “exclusive powers” over agriculture, trade, investments, labor and tourism, according to a copy of the power-sharing deal signed yesterday in Kuala Lumpur. Bangsamoro, as the autonomous entity will be known, will have a ministerial form of government composed of at least 50 popularly elected ministers, who will elect among themselves a chief minister.