The announcement comes after 15 years of negotiations between the government and the rebels . UK foreign secretary : ` ` I wholeheartedly welcome the announcement '' Aquino : The agreement is a preliminary agreement for creating an autonomous state . The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has fought for decades for an independent Islamic state .
The deal comes after 15 years of negotiations between the government and the rebels . UK foreign secretary : `` I wholeheartedly welcome the announcement '' Aquino : The deal is a framework agreement for establishing an autonomous region . The Moro Islamic Liberation Front has fought for decades for an independent Islamic state .