Palace: Peace process on track despite MILF 'saber-rattling'

Peace efforts between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front remain on track despite a newspaper report claiming the MILF was “preparing for war" over the possibility of failure in preparations for renewed talks, Malacañang said Saturday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles "was very confident the MILF is willing to go through the peace process." Also, he said Deles had confirmed the MILF was “looking forward to the peace process." Lacierda welcomed the MILF's clarification on the newspaper's "saber-rattling" story. “We welcome the clarification made by the MILF... Alam namin ang general statement ng MILF, they welcome the peace process. Pinalaki ang portion ng press conference na pinalahad nilang handa sila (We welcome the MILF’s clarification. We are aware the MILF’s general statement is that it welcomes the peace process. It was unfortunate a part of the press conference was exaggerated)," he said on government-run dzRB radio. For its part, the MILF dismissed the reported threats and chided the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) newspaper for its story. The MILF, in an article on its website, asked the paper not to exaggerate or opinionate or editorialize. “Don’t exaggerate and don’t opinionate or editorialize what otherwise are straight facts from a particular event or happening like the interview with MILF Chairman [Al-Haj] Murad during the MILF-FOCAP Forum on the Peace Process last August 10," it said. “It creates an impression that the MILF is bloodthirsty even during Ramadan," added MILF spokesman Mohagher Iqbal. Iqbal branded the story as “ill-timed for the Ramadan where Muslims are fasting to restraint themselves from any wrongdoing, and it creates an impression that the MILF is not only the villain but also blood-thirsty even during Ramadan." He said he had appealed to the paper’s Mindanao bureau chief Nestor Alconaba Jr. and national editor Pergentino Bandayrel Jr. to be “circumspect and balance(d)" in their approach. Iqbal recalled that during the deliberation of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) in July and August 2008, the PDI was “almost unrestrained" in publishing news articles, views, and comments that “intensified opposition to the signing of the landmark deal on ancestral domain." “The two sides of the MOA-AD were not given a fair coverage; only the negative side was over-emphasized," he said. In that press conference cited by Lacierda, Iqbal said Chairman Murad merely answered a question at a forum about the number of MILF combatants and firearms at its arsenal. Murad said the MILF had trained at least 100,000 people, 60 percent of whom are armed. He said their fighters will be used for the defense of the MILF and the Bangsamoro people. Bishop chides MILF A Mindanao-based Catholic bishop on Saturday chided the MILF for hinting a possible resurgence of hostilities in Mindanao. Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo’s rebuke came after the government supposedly downplayed MILF’s threat for war if peace talks do not resume soon. “This only shows that MILF always have a dagger ready hidden on their sleeves ... I question their sincerity and transparency," Bagaforo said in an interview on Church-run Radyo Veritas. Excerpts of the interview were posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. On Tuesday, MILF chairman Murad said they are prepared for any eventualities in case the Malaysian-brokered peace negotiation with the new Aquino administration falters. Bagaforo said such a threat is totally “uncalled for" especially that the government is extending its arms for peace building. President Benigno Aquino III and the MILF earlier agreed to continue the peace process after the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. On the other hand, Bagaforo said both sides must resume peace talks soonest, according to a story on the Union of Catholic Asian News site. “It is urgent that both sides sit down and start negotiations," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV