MILF to Pacquiao: Beware of Sayyaf kidnap try in Mindanao

Boxing icon Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao should watch out for attempts to kidnap him if he insists on brokering for peace between government and armed groups in Mindanao. The advice came Wednesday from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which rejected Tuesday the idea that Pacquiao would act as peace negotiator of sorts. [See: Pacquiao peacemaker role sparks new 'word war' between MILF, govt] "Mag-ingat siya (he must be careful). He must be extra careful para makasiguro na walang mangyayaring masama (to make sure nothing happens to him)," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also said the MILF is not discounting the possibility that the Abu Sayyaf would kidnap Pacquiao if he ventures into areas where the bandits have active presence. “Nakikita kong parang delikado ang puntong yan, hindi tayo sigurado sa Abu Sayyaf (I think he is treading on dangerous ground especially in areas where the Abu Sayyaf operates)," he said. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. suggested that Pacquiao, a presidential envoy for peace, be tapped to broker peace with the MILF. Pimentel’s suggestion came a week after a bloody clash in Basilan that involved government troops, the Abu Sayyaf as well as MILF members. [See: Arroyo vows anew to finish Abu Sayyaf] Kabalu said the MILF members who joined the fight may have been relatives of the Abu Sayyaf. “Yung sinasabi nilang kasikatan ni Manny... para magkaroon ng - wika nga - peace process... sinasabi natin na ibang bagay ang kasikatan at ibang bagay ang peace process. Maselang bagay po ito. Bagaman di natin madi-discount ang possibility na isang tao ay may maiko-contribute na maganda sa pagsisikap na ito," he said. (We cannot accept someone’s popularity alone to be used for the peace process. This is a delicate matter and is too important to leave to personal charisma. But then again, we do not discount the possibility that he may contribute something good.) "We should welcome lahat ng effort na manggagaling outside or inside para makita natin ang tamang formula ng solution sa ating problema dito sa Mindanao (We should welcome all efforts from both inside and outside to find the right formula for the problem in Mindanao)," he added. Meanwhile, Kabalu said that except for last week’s clash, the suspension of military operations by both government and the MILF has been “99-percent effective" so far. He said there had been no reported untoward incidents or acts tantamount to violation of the suspension of offensive military actions by both sides. But Kabalu also laughed off Senate defense committee chair Rodolfo Biazon’s suggestion to suspend peace talks while an investigation into last week’s clash is ongoing. "There is nothing to suspend because technically ‘di pa nagre-resume (because peace talks have not resumed)," he said. - GMANews.TV