MILF 'sincere' amid doubts spawned by Cotabato blast - govt

MANILA, Philippines - Despite doubts spawned by the deadly blast that killed five people in Cotabato City Sunday, the government still believes in the "sincerity" of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in pursuing peace talks, a senior Malacañang official said Tuesday. Presidential peace process adviser Avelino Razon Jr. said the group’s sincerity is the basis of government optimism over the resumption of formal talks, which he said will take place soon. The military had claimed that it had found signs the MILF’s Special Operations Group was involved in Sunday’s blast near a cathedral that killed five people. The MILF has since denied the accusation. "Ako [ay] naniniwala na ang liderato ng MILF ay sincere pa rin sa kanilang adhikain na maipagpatuloy ang usapang pangkapayapaan [I believe the MILF leadership remains sincere in pursuing the peace process]," Razon said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also said that both the government and the MILF panels are "very optimistic" on renewed negotiations despite the lethal blast in Cotabato City, adding that both camps are now threshing out the agenda for the talks. When asked when the formal talks would resume, Razon merely said "very soon," adding that government peace panel chairman Rafael Seguis is working out on the schedule. He also said the peace talks would likely bear fruit before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term ends in June 2010. At Malacañang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also said the government maintains a positive outlook on the peace talks. "Despite that [Cotabato blast] patuloy pa ring positibo ang ating pagtingin [Despite that, we maintain a positive outlook in the peace process)," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. On the other hand, the military is looking into the involvement of the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah in the Cotabato blast. A number of JI operatives have been reported to be in southern Philippines the past years. In a separate interview, Remonde cited initial military findings that the bombers appeared to be foreign-trained. - GMANews.TV