Philippines to bid for observer status at Islamic summit

Manila - The Philippines will revive its bid for an observer seat in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) six years after its application was rejected by the 57-nation group, a senior official said Tuesday. Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the government would make another pitch during an OIC foreign ministers' meeting in Damascus, Syria in May. 'We are working against all possible odds, but we will apply again for an observer status in the OIC. We'll see what will happen,' Seguis said. Seguis, who is also chief government negotiator with Muslim separatist rebels in the southern Philippines, said Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo has been invited by Syria to attend the 36th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting. He said the Philippines decided to apply anew for an observer seat after the OIC finalized its policy on the acceptance of new observers to the 57-member Islamic union. 'While there are no formal set of rules yet, we will still pursue our bid,' Seguis said. 'The Philippine government is in a better position to represent the entire Muslim community.' The Philippines' bid has been thumbed down three times in the past by the OIC, citing lack of rules for accepting observers to the organization. The last time the government applied for an observer seat was in 2003. Currently, the OIC only recognizes the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 1996, as the sole legitimate representative of Filipino Muslims. In applying for observer status, Seguis clarified the government did not intend to dislodge the MNLF from its post. 'The Philippines is a state applying for an observer seat,' he said. 'The MNLF is a non-government organization. We never asked (the OIC) to drop from their post to give way to the government.' The OIC facilitated peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MNLF. It has also supported peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has continued the MNLF's secessionist struggle.